A mended fence

We've not been the best of friends.  Infact -- barely acquaintances is how I would sum up our relationship.  I mean, if while getting groceries, I happened to meet up with this person, I would say, "Hi."  Maybe even inquire on their day.  But friends, we are not.

Last week, this individual and yours truly ventured on an researchful (pretty sure that should be a word) outing.  I learned more in those few hours than I had learned in years of working together.  Sad, I know.

I have shied-away from anything more than the acquaintance status completely out of fear.  Writing the word "fear" made me recall the Bible verse that God has not given us the spirit of fear but of a sound mind.  II Timothy 2:7:  "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."  How is it that all this time, I have read this verse but overlooked the "and of love" part.  My brain got so wrapped around the fear and power and sound mind that I, Angie Good, missed out on the "and of love" part.

The verse before (which would be verse 6) talks about stirring up the gifts of God and the verse following (verse 8), it talks about not being ashamed of our testimony.  Wow!  I'm talking jumps-off-the-page-WOW!!!

Today my day ended with a series of computer-generated smiley faces and an encouraging comment. 

I must digress for a moment - last weekend I was given the opportunity to talk to my former boss.  Not my most former-former boss.  But my former-former-former boss.  His wife inquired about my current employment and I was sharing how God had opened up the doors.  She said something to the effect, "Angie, where you  are is where you are supposed to be.  It's your mission field." 

As I considered her words, the song This Little Light of Mine came to mind. Not so much the first verse or even the second -- but around the 3rd or maybe it's the 4th verse - the one that talks about hiding your light under a bushel (basket).  It wouldn't be a good idea to hide your light under a bushel basket....  A) They are usually made of wood.  Lit candle near wood - POOF!  Fire!!!!  Danger-danger!  B) Some baskets are made of plastic.  Plastic + a flame = a melted mess of goo.

Tonight I shared a snippet of the story with my pastor's wife who eloquently replied, "It's a mended fence."  This got me thinking about how long it must've taken farmers, in the olden days, to mend a fence.  When I say, "olden days" I do mean back in the day FOR REAL...not my usual circa 5 years ago when I was young and crazy.  No, I mean OLD-EN DAYS.  Plows with oxen.  Think Little House on the Prairie.  Would you like a confession about Little House on the Prairie?  I thought so!  :)  I was in my 20's (TWEN-TIES!) before I realized Little House on the Prairie was filmed in the 80's.  I don't know when I thought it was filmed/recorded but I did NOT think it was the 80's.  Logically - HELLOOOO!  It was playing on a t.v. and it was in color.  Those two facts should've been Clues 1 and 2 respectively.  I've always wanted to type "respectively" and use it properly. 

Mending fences isn't something that can be done in 10 to 15 minutes.  I was thinking about why you would have to mend a fence...animal stampede, inclement weather, etc.  Both of those seem to be BIG things which would cause BIG damage needing BIG mending.  Our relationships are like that...we can stampede over someone's feelings - this leaves a hole in need of repair.  We can say something mean and hurtful - the equivalent of the herd of cattle charging the fence.  And occasionally we can do damage to a fence and not even realize we are damaging it. 

In the Old Testament account of Jacob, every time the enemy came upon their freshly dug well, Jacob would tell his men to pick up their tools and they were going to dig another well.  Pastor Schettler preached from this passage.  And even though college was a lifetime ago, I still remember him giving us circumstance after circumstance and after each hurtful thing, he would say, "Dig another well!" 

Whether it's fences to be mended or wells to be dug, we've got work to do!!!  Happy mending and/or digging!!!  :)