Do all things…

Yesterday, as sleep started to drift away and consciousness stepped in to take its place, I became aware of the gentle dripping of water—as I listened it became a steady, persistent stream and I immediately recognized the sound of a toilet overflowing in the upstairs apartment.  I jumped out of bed, grabbed my phone and ran to the kitchen to find the number for the office of our apartment complex.

When I finally connected to a maintenance person, he recommended that I put a bucket under the drip to catch the water and prevent damage to the apartment below me. –it took four buckets and I don’t think I had them under all of the drips, just the main waterfalls.  It was necessary to empty them four or five times and every time I went into the hallway and bathroom where the water poured down, I was anointed with the dirty, dripping toilet water.

SOOOOOO annoyed!  Why in the world couldn’t they get someone over here sooner?  Why did this start after the neighbors left for work?  Why do I have to deal with this icky water?  I do not want to run back and forth in there and I do not want the access to my bedroom to have a filthy carpet and falling ceiling.

…without complaining.

My complaints are justified, Lord!  This is the second time this has happened since we’ve lived here.  The people upstairs should know better (even though they are different tenants than the last time)!  The maintenance people should have been quicker to respond.  I should not have to risk having raw sewage dripping down on me!  Telling me to handle this without complaining is asking an awful lot from this mere mortal!

Judge not….

I cannot believe that the maintenance man was still in bed at 6:30 in the morning.  He said that the maintenance people don’t start work until 8am—why do they not have people on call, people available for the emergencies that do not happen between business hours?  I am not being judgmental; I’m just making an observation here.  I’m not condemning anyone for not being available for my convenience; I am just stating the fact that this business could be run more effectively for their clients, the renters.  I am the victim here; I am in the “right”.

…and you shall not be judged.  Condemn not and you shall not be condemned.

I know that I am not perfect, but just off-hand I cannot think of any faults that I have.  Well, perhaps I am not very patient.  …and I guess taking offense at the imperfections of others is not one of my most stellar qualities.  I suppose my lifestyle doesn’t fit the needs and convenience of everyone else…

Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

The issue here is not forgiveness, it is the fact nasty water is streaming out of my ceiling, and someone needs to be here NOW to take care of it.  To be noted, this situation is not being handled as well as it could be and I am just pointing out that fact.

However… I am pretty sure that my default attitudes are critical, condemning —and I can give good reasons for being that way!  Interesting, that the Creator, the perfect Savior, doesn’t condemn, He came to save (John 3:17).  …and if Jesus doesn’t condemn, then I’m pretty sure that I have not been given the authority to do so.  I wonder if the absence of forgiveness is condemnation?

I looked up the word “condemn”, and I felt convicted (not condemned because there is no condemnation in Jesus).   To pass adverse judgment on, disapprove of strongly, to declare to be guilty of wrongdoing…  How often are these the underlying attitudes when I do not like the actions of others, or when I think that they are not responding to my needs or requests in the way or the timing I think best?  How often am I quick to condemn while living in my little world of “no condemnation”?

The answer here is not to try to be better or to do better; rather, the answer is found in 1 John 1:9 –If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Sin is found not only in our actions, but also in our attitudes—unforgiveness is sin, complaining is sin, unbelief, not believing that God can make all things—even dripping toilet water—work out for good, is sin.  But when I confess, He forgives; and He cleanses me of those unrighteous, toilet-water attitudes.  That is good news!

So my prayer is that God will teach me how to do without—without complaining, without criticism, without a judgmental spirit, without condemnation, and without unforgiveness.  I confess that they have long been a part of my life, but I am ready to be cleansed—in Jesus’ name!