Illustration: Spiritual Power Failures and Repairs

In a previous edition of his Tuesday Mornings newsletter, Tom Barnard writes, "Few things in the home cause more frustration than a power outage—not a neighborhood power outage or a city-wide power outage, but a single-family-home power outage. Several years ago, we experienced one at our home…It wasn't a total power outage—only a partial one. One-half of the house had power; the other half had none. The had none half was crucial—air conditioners, computer, microwave, range and oven, televisions, appliances, washer/dryer, garage-door opener. You know—the crucial stuff.

"Fortunately, the telephone worked, so we did the normal thing and called the electric company. They did the normal thing and said it would be some time before they could get a repairman there. Some time for them meant late that afternoon—not as bad as next week, but not nearly as good as, 'We're on our way.' No computer and no television caused all kinds of frustration, and it was a hot summer day—not a good time to be without air conditioning.

"When the electric utility repairman arrived, he discovered the problem quickly. It wasn't something we did. One of the two hot lines into the house had shorted out. It happened underground at the furthest point from the house—near the property line. A temporary hookup was connected, and full power was restored within an hour of the repairman's arrival. He had to dig down to the line to find out exactly where the short was located. When the section of broken cable was removed, it was discovered that something as small and insignificant as a pin-hole in the cable—located several feet underground and out of sight—allowed just enough moisture to invade the cable and cause the short, making the electrical system only partially operational.

"In our spiritual lives, internal breaks may occur from time to time. Sometimes it is not something we have done, but something someone else did to us. Some pin-hole-size decision allows unwanted moisture into the recesses of our hearts, resulting in a short circuit and loss of power somewhere in the system. Not everything blows at once—just enough to cause aggravation and frustration. For awhile, we may be able to manage without full power—you know, with candles and flashlights and oil lamps—but not for long.

"How should we react when we experience a short-circuit in our spiritual lives? Ignore it? (No.) Walk away from it? (Come on!) Pretend it didn't happen? (Not recommended.) Try to fix the problem ourselves? (Ouch!) Actually, the only reasonable way to address a personal power outage is to contact the Person who knows all about such problems and knows how to restore normal power in a person's life. Invite Him into your heart; let Him go about finding a satisfactory solution. There is no problem too small or too big for Him. Best of all, He specializes in house calls." (For a free subscription to Tuesday Mornings send an email to barnard22@cox.net.)