Only God Can Do That

     We are back in Gig Harbor for the next three weeks--a gig Reed has had nearly every summer since Semitool sold their Falcon 50 to an operator here seven years ago. Since the jet's annual inspection is due in June, we usually celebrate our anniversary, the 25th, at Anthony's in Gig Harbor. One year, when Reed's help was not needed, we had no idea where we should go out for dinner--in our own hometown. Last year was our 40th anniversary, or as Reed would say, 50 years with the chill factor. We were looking forward to our familiar getaway. But then our son, who was living with us, relapsed/drank and we realized we could not trust him to be alone in our house. Of the options that occurred to us, the simplest was to bring him along. I wanted it to be punitive for him. I was convinced it would be punitive for us. Sharing a hotel room with a grown son on our 40th anniversary sounds more like a sitcom episode than a romantic interlude.
     Providentially, the one unit at the hotel that had a separate bedroom was available. Reed wanted Tracy to join him at the airport in the afternoons and work on the inspection, both to repay the extra expenses of bringing him along and, because he is a mechanic and familiar with airplanes, he could be helpful. And there's also the punitive factor, this was not a vacation. (Although, it is for me.) In spite of that, we didn't make him go with Reed in the mornings because he was recovering from adrenal surgery and his energy level was still low. So some days after breakfast, Tracy and I would go to the harbor, a museum etc. before I took him to the airport to work.
     God made something much sweeter than lemonade out of those sour circumstances. It was wonderful to have someone accompany me sightseeing and learn to love the places I already did. At the airport, Tracy removed panels, cleaned parts and was generally useful on the inspection. And he enjoyed being part of the team and an atmosphere of camaraderie rarely found in auto shops. In the evenings, we went out for dinner and Reed had someone to share the triumphs and trials of the day with who actually spoke "mechanic". To our surprise, we all had more fun on the trip because Tracy came along. Only God could turn a booze binge into a blessing.
     The Bible is full of examples of people in the mess where sin had placed them encountering God, experiencing blessing, receiving promises. I have been studying Judges lately and have been struck again by how unworthy of help the Israelites, including the judges, were. When God raised up Gideon to deliver them from Midianite oppression, the people were still so idolatrous they threatened to kill Gideon for pulling down their Asherah pole. He was only spared because it apparently belonged to Gideon's father, who told them if their god couldn't defend himself, no one else should either. This is another incident that contrasts the huge difference between me and God. I would never have sent those idolatrous ingrates a deliverer even though I, too, am an unworthy ingrate.
    Only God has the ability and, more importantly, the desire to turn our well deserved consequences into undeserved blessings. When Tracy said he wished he could come to Gig Harbor this year, we wished he could too. We missed the camaraderie and having him as part of our team. And now, since he will be moving back to Kalispell in a little over a week, he can come. We are flying him to Seattle for the final week of inspection and, especially, to help load and tow a large aircraft "jig" Reed is bringing back from Nampa, ID. There's a saying, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.", but to turn the stinking leftovers of sin into a feast that you long for again--only God can do that.