A few months ago, I discovered a leak under my kitchen sink.Â
Ah, the joys of homeownership! Something always needs to be fixed, modified, or added.Â
I got my Bob-The-Builder on and felt around the garbage disposal while my cat, Kiwi, judged as if he was a seasoned contractor.Â
Failing miserably, I decided to do what every adult does: call my parents, who reminded me that I have a home warranty plan. If you don’t have one of these, are you even adulting?
The company recognized that this was essentially an emergency, with the incident occurring in my kitchen, and they dispatched a plumber as if my water-deprived plants’ lives depended on it.Â
So, I’m not sure if it was his expertise or the fact that it was close to dinner time that made his diagnosis so quick. However, in approximately three minutes, we discovered a faulty spray hose. Sounds like an easy enough fix, right?Â
While waiting for the replacement part, he ingeniously redirected the leak into the sink by pulling the hose out of the socket where it usually lives when not in use and stretching it across the sink basin. Any and all water that would have landed underneath my cabinet made its slippery way into the drainage hole. It was a makeshift solution but would do the trick for a few days.Â
So, I spent a long weekend navigating around the hose in my sink as if it had always been there. As a product of my mother’s house, I use my dishwasher maybe once every three months to ensure it works. I wash all dishes by hand every day.Â
However, navigating around the hose on those days was inconvenient. It was even more inconvenient that I couldn’t use the hose to spray down my scrubbed dishes without spewing water all over the place, like in a scene from one of those stripper movies where the water splashes down underneath the pole. I made it do what was necessary, however.Â
Monday rolled around, and the plumber returned the replacement part. I was so excited to get my kitchen back to normal!Â
However, the part didn’t fit.Â
He returned to his utility van to see if he had brought the wrong piece in or ordered the incorrect part. However, after some research, it turned out that the company sent him the wrong part.Â
After a frustrating game of back-and-forth, the right part finally arrived, but so did another inconvenience – scheduling conflicts.
I don’t think you really cherish and understand how much you use something and take it for granted until it’s taken away or modified.Â
It wasn’t just doing the dishes; it was also washing my hair (yes, I wash my hair in there and deeply clean it regularly; I hope you clean your sink, too!). It wasn’t only rinsing off the vegetables and giving certain plants an extra dose of water in that same sink. For weeks, this inconvenience kept providing just how inconvenient it was.Â
Six weeks after my initial visit from the plumber, the kitchen was finally leak-free!Â
When it was time to pay for his services (because even with a plan, there’s still an exchange of money! How does this even work?!), he said that it was free. It took him so long to get out to service my house, and he felt bad about the inconvenience.Â
Look at that!Â
This story has me wondering about God’s plan, timing, and life’s inconveniences.Â
It’s so easy, and sometimes we’re quick to get frustrated about something taking too long or inconvenient. I know I am always quick to mention in my coaching sessions with my coach or in the confines of my close friends and family that there are so many things that I just want to work out right now. I don’t want to have to sit through this inconvenience or splash through the crap. I want everything shiny and functioning right when I want it to be.Â
I am striving to get to a point in my life, journey, and relationship with God where I am content in each and every occurrence and that my level of joy internally doesn’t fluctuate when things aren’t going my way or working out how I want them to.Â
Now, however, I have yet another reference point that demonstrates yet again that rarely is it only an inconvenience; it could also be a set-up for something greater.Â
God is always doing His thing, and I’m incredibly grateful.Â
It's easy to get frustrated when things don't go according to plan, but what if every inconvenience was a divine setup?
Here are a few things to ponder when life throws an unexpected inconvenience your way:Â
Embrace the Detour: Instead of cursing the detour, embrace it. Trust that God has a greater plan in store for you, even if it's not immediately clear.
Patience: Practice patience. Remember that God's timing is perfect, even when it doesn't align with ours.
Find the Lesson: Every inconvenience is an opportunity for growth. Take a moment to reflect on what God might be trying to teach you through the experience.
Gratitude: Shift your focus from frustration to gratitude. Give thanks to God, even amid inconvenience, knowing He is always with you.
So, the next time life throws a wrench in your plans, remember – it might just be a divine invitation to trust in God's providence.
After all, sometimes the path to paradise is paved with potholes.
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