An Onslaught of Entropy

Good grief! Everything is breaking down around our house lately! In just the last month or so:

• Margo's car needed new tires
  
• Margo's car needed new brakes
  
• Margo's car still needs a new battery
  
• A deer hit Margo's car (we're thinking the big dent adds character)
  
• My car needed exhaust system repairs
  
• My car needed new tires
  
• My car still needs a fuel pump and possibly rear brakes, plugs, and wires
  
• The dryer needed a new thermostat
  
• The refrigerator needs some part in the freezer to stop ice formation
  
• Margo's sewing machine has been in for repairs... twice!
  
• That leak in our roof that we fixed last month? It leaked again over the weekend
  
• Margo's computer needs a replacement motherboard and power supply
  
• The pipes under the kitchen sink sprung a leak
  
• Something tore a hole in our bed sheets
  
• The soap dispenser the kitchen isn't working all of a sudden

And that doesn't include 3 vet appointments related to the dog's cancer. (And notice I'm totally avoiding mentioning the huge global economic crisis and its implications...)

We're feeling like this onslaught of entropy is eating away at us financially a few hundred bucks at a time, and we are very eager for it to stop.

Then again, it's been a good reminder not to hold on too tightly to the stuff of this world. We're merely sojourners here, and it's good to travel lightly.

Our Hope Group has been working our way through the book of James, and we finally reached the beginning of chapter 5 this weekend. It's the place where some of James' recurring themes and overall appeal is completely revealed. James is greatly concerned with people who claim to follow Christ and yet are unchanged by that relationship. And he refers to clinging to wealth vs. self-sacrifice for the poor as an indication of an authentic, life-changing relationship with the Lord. At one point he asserts that holding on tight to the stuff of this world actually makes us enemies with God, and he appeals for us to grieve and repent (James 4:4-10). And by the time we reach the beginning of chapter 5, James points out that the errosion and crumbling of all the wealth we accumulate for ourselves actually serves as condemnation for our Christ-less greed. (James 5:1-6) Heavy stuff!

So, on the one hand, I'm frustrated with the deluge of repair bills this month. But on the other hand, I'm thankful for the reminder that this earth is not my home; I'm only passing through. My hunger for simplifying -- for "the pursuit of less" -- continues to grow as God continues to loosen my grip on the stuff of this world in favor of clutching tightly to the stuff of eternity.