Just to preface this story, I’m usually pretty laid back and have a lot of patience for unprecedented circumstances. For example, we all know that COVID has hit the world really hard, but I’m still diddle-daddling around (always wearing a mask of course)! I’m a fixer, but I know my limits. I am also thankful to know that the Lord has blessed me with the gift of adaptability, however, I’m being tested… really tested.
At the beginning of Fellows we were thrilled to learn that all the girls would be living in a house together. I was stoked. Going from my 1940’s college house with roaches living in the walls, to a family style home in North Raleigh was an UPGRADE for me. Needless to say, I didn’t have crazy expectations, but I was in for one. The day we moved in was painless and easy. The house was beautiful and I was starting to dream about the sweet memories I would soon have during this program and with my new roommates. All was well, until I noticed a strong smell of gas as soon as I walked in the front door. I realize gas leaks are fairly common, but I also know the danger that comes along with them. I called up my friends at PSNC energy, they came out, determined there was a gas leak, and turned off the gas.
Little did I know, the gas issue would become a whole ordeal. As I’m writing this, the gas still isn’t fixed. We’ve had more than 20 different plumbers, HVAC technicians, and gas company technicians come out to our home, only to tell us that nothing can be fixed. Until it’s fixed, we won’t have heat or hot water. Now, I’m not one to really complain about things like this, but… this seems a little extensive to say the least. I can also say that if you are reading this and feel genuinely concerned for our well being… we are fine! We have a temporary water heater and we don’t necessarily need heat right now. We will get it repaired and figured out soon… hopefully.
Behind the walls of our homes lies an incredibly intricate arrangement of pipes, wires, insulation, foundation and protection. Without the things behind the walls, a house wouldn’t function properly and it wouldn’t serve as a comfortable place to live. What is crazy about something like a gas leak, is that somewhere behind the walls, there is a tiny hole that is leaking out and causing a much larger problem. One spark, and the whole place could blow! I think we are pretty similar to houses. We put on masks and put up walls because we are afraid to let others see the incredible intricate parts of us that God has created. Sometimes we put up so many walls, that we don’t even let God in to see what’s really lying behind them.
If we are honest with ourselves, we all have a gas leak. Some of us go through the strenuous process to fix the leak, some of us don’t do anything about it and wait for it to blow, and some of us just turn it off and ignore the problem. Hopefully, we all challenge ourselves to pick option A. It’s not easy to wait around and hope somebody else more qualified (aka God) will fix the problem. Sometimes it takes dozens of calls and months of waiting, but He’s there, He’s listening, and He loves bigger than we can handle.
As we wait patiently for someone to come out to Havershire Dr and fix this craziness, I’m reminded of the way God’s timing is far more important than our earthly urgency. Hopefully, the gas will be fixed this Thursday, and if it’s not, I’ll let you know next blog!
Thanks for reading,
Maddie :)
Pre move in selfie!
Roomies minus Brooke :)
That one time we had a gas leak and sat in the street for two hours