Jim and the Art of Lawnmower Maintenance

In Robert Persig's philosophical classic, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Bob teaches us the virtues of analytic thought over romanticism through events, circumstances and conversations he has on a cross country motor cycle trip.  I'm afraid I'm not as intellectually astute.  All I have is the day to day reality of living life, making things work and trusting God for results.

What I learned mowing lawns at the Children's Malnutrition Center in San Juan, Sacatepequez, Guatemala, C.A.:  (To read about the lawn mowing see our team blog, here.)

1. Inspection - It is a good idea to take a quick look at the mower before you begin just to make sure everything is still attached.  Little things like the shroud over the top of the engine or maybe even the muffler.  In the same way, we should inspect our lives.  What is coming apart and why?  We shouldn't wait until things start falling apart when all we needed to do was tighten a few relational screws.
2. Some Maintenance Required - Spark plug, oil and air filters are all expended parts.  When they are bad, they can have serious consequences to the operation of the mower.  In our lives, there are many things that need to be maintained - physical condition, nutrition, relationships, intellectual growth, spiritual connection ...
3. When Enough Is Enough -  When things aren't working well, it is best to stop and fix it rather than soldier on with unsatisfactory results.  Things like bent and twisted blades that extend below the deck of the mower and dig trenches in the yard when a wheel falls in a hole causing a need to raise the deck to the highest level leaving one with less than satisfactory results.  In our life and relationships, sometimes things just don't work.  Rather than making the best of it through the ugliness - FIX IT!  Learn a new skill, ask for help, pray a lot, study what God has to say about it (and then actually do some of it whether you like it or not), whatever it takes to make things right.
4. Fixing the Fixes - There are somethings you should not try to fix by just screwing it on tighter.  When you use a universal blade, it is preferable to use the accompanying adapters rather than tighten down the retaining bold until you strip out the threads and warp the blade.  Most of us have picked up some maladaptive behaviors.  We've learned methods of self-protection that are not conducive to good relationships.  We escape, withdraw, lash out, deny, begrudge, lie ... usually to cover pain.  Ask God for healing.  Learn new ways to deal with people and situations.  Pray Psalm 51.  Be transformed.
5. Repair Improv - When the necessary parts are not available, don't give up.  Use what you have to make it work.  Like finding longer bolts, washers and nuts to put the muffler back on when the retaining clip is lost.  In life, we don't give up.  We keep learning and growing and changing.  We fail and we try again.  We go back to the Bible, to prayer, to good Christian friends - the basics - until we find the missing part to make it work.  We persevere knowing that it will have it's perfect result that we may become mature and complete lacking nothing.

All I Have Needed

In the hymn, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, there is the line, "All I have needed thy hand hath provided."  It goes on to talk about how great is God's faithfulness toward me.  Me.  "Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me."  I certainly wouldn't argue that point.  He has been more than faithful to me.  He has been generous and gracious beyond any reasonable expectation.
But what about them.
We are surrounded on every side by poverty off all kinds.  Poverty of resources.  Poverty of education.  Poverty of community.  Poverty of hope.  Where is His faithfulness to them?
As we flew into Guatemala City, I had a window seat for the first time.  About half an hour out, I was watching the rolling hills, jagged peaks, river valleys, high plains and incredibly rich beauty scroll beneath us.  There was a lot of forested area, but there was an equal amount of hillside meadow.  There were vast, undeveloped areas without a hint of any human habitation.  Every now and then, a little hillside village would appear.  Little communities of no more than 100 dwellings.
Then suddenly, Guatemala City appears.  Our approach brought us over the city from the west and we circled around and landed from the south, giving us a view of about one third of this sprawling city of four million people.  Shacks and palacial estates sit side by side.  Middle class walled communities coexist with slums.  The first car I noticed was a Mazerati Granturismo.  Their are the extremely poor selling their handcrafts out side of international five star hotels.  The disparity is striking.
I know that Jesus said. "the poor will be with you always," but did He mean that he means for people to suffer in poverty?
I believe He has been faithful and His hand has provided ... we just can't handle it.  While people are malnourished, Guatemala's second largest industry is agricultural exports (mostly to the US).  People live in shacks while new luxury resorts are built.  Election posters abound from every possible ideology, yet nothing ever changes.  People continue their ancient animist practices, struggling without hope, while tourists visit cathedrals and chapels.
Great is His faithfulness to me, but what is the nature of my faithfulness to Him.