A Cautionary Tale

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath

Ephesians 4:26

Now that is a tall order. I don't know about your personality, but mine leans toward "red alert" on its best day. 

Simple things can trip me — a post that never updates, a car that does not start or a groundhog clopping across my deck like a small pony. 

This "red alert" thing really goes bezerk when I feel someone I love has been wronged. 

Two weeks ago today, I entered The Ponderosa (John's place) for the first time since December. The snow was finally shallow enough to get through the door without climbing a snowbank. What I saw shocked me, scared me, and made me absolutely livid.

Someone had entered the building and stolen thousands of dollars of equipment. This was done while my tenant watched. She told her cousin the responding police officer (can you believe it?) that there was a woman who looked just like her landlord (me) and two men. She said that she thought nothing of it because there were always people there taking things. Really? Really?! 

To say that I would like to drop kick her to the moon is not too much of a stretch. Did she tell me? No. Did she call the police? No. Now I could say much more, in fact, I did and had to delete it, but this is the gist of it. 

There are other complications in this mess. Did you know that in my corner if you do not have the serial numbers from all pieces of equipment that the police will not even attempt to search pawn shops, etc.? 

I have told this story as a cautionary tale. Get those serial numbers, make sure your insurance is current, take photos, and have an inventory. Also, never assume that snow covering the door is a deterrent. These people shoveled their way in and shoveled the snow back covering their tracks. I feel like such a fool to have fallen for that trick. 

Perhaps you can imagine how much I feel I have failed John. Oh I know that he is not affected by these earthly things anymore, but he would have been some kind of upset if this had happened on his watch. I certainly regret that it has happened on mine.

This advice is good and the best philosophy/psychology/"the world" has to offer; however, it does not go far enough. It is true that we can not change the direction of the wind, but it is also true that we can't adjust our own sails either without the help of The Lord Himself. 

This issue is so big that I know I can't deal with it. I know my ongoing answer is forever and always in going to The Lord. I thank Him that this is just stuff and that no one was hurt, except for the financial loss and that sense of being violated. And I am really going to need His help to show grace. I can not begin to know why God allowed this, but since He did, He has a plan to work it all out. And I know that He will work on this angry heart of mine, too.