Downed Power Line

A few days before Christmas I was driving home from some last-minute shopping. The wind had been blowing most of the day and as I drove along, dust devils whirled in circular patterns along the side of the road. The homes along this throughfare, although set well back from the street, nevertheless were receiving quite a scrubbing from the flying dirt and gravel. Without warning, power lines dropped from the sky directly in front of my vehicle. Stopping abruptly, one of my front tires rested on a coil of the downed line so I put my car in reverse and backed up until I was a safe distance from it. Recalling instructions posted on signs all around town, I grabbed my cell phone to call 9-1-1 to report the downed line. A quick glance in my rear-view mirror reminded me to also turn on my hazard lights. I explained the situation to the 9-1-1 dispatcher, who assured me that the Fire Department would be sent right out. As I spoke to the dispatcher, residents from both sides of the street began emerging from their homes, looks of bewilderment on their faces, wondering why, without even a flicker of warning, their power had been abruptly cut off. I rolled down my window and informed one of the residents that I had called and the Fire Department was on their way. Not knowing if the downed lines were “live” or not and aware of the dangers of driving across live power lines, I decided to stay put. Amazingly, a number of impatient drivers behind me that were unaware of the downed lines, were now driving around me and, seeing the lines too late, drove straight across them! Thankfully, no one disappeared in a puff of blue smoke.

Practically speaking, a downed power line is easy to identify. When a power line goes down, it is disconnected from the source of its power. Everything that depends on the power source stops: lights, fans, air conditioners, heaters, televisions, radios, appliances, computers, printers. None of them will work until the power line is reconnected and power is restored.  

Spiritually speaking, a downed power line is a little more subtle. They sneak up on me. They probably sneak up on you, too.  The busy-ness of life can keep me from spending time in God’s Word. My list of chores or projects suddenly become more urgent than sitting down and having a heart-to-heart conversation with my Friend who never fails. Or, in the middle of my prayer time, I’m interrupted by someone who thinks their needs are more pressing than mine. Whatever the reason – or excuse – before I know it, I have a downed power line and my spiritual wellbeing is at risk. My patience wears thin. My thoughts become anxious. I get provoked easily. My boneless tongue becomes harder to control. I’m quick to take offense and my need for retaliation is often overwhelming. Wow! If I’m behind a grocery cart, get out of my way. I’m liable to use it as a weapon! See what I mean? A downed power line; I’ve somehow lost my connection to my power source: the power source that reminds me to be kind. The power source that says “be a blessing to someone today.” The power source that helps me to be patient when others around me are not. The power source who graciously says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3), in spite of my unfaithfulness. It isn’t that my power source (The Holy Spirit) has left me; it’s just that I’ve severed the connection through neglect. He didn’t leave me; I left Him.

So, what do I do to restore the power? For me, I have to purposefully set aside time to read my Bible and pray; to have a quiet time to work on my weekly Bible Study; to keep my power line connected to its source of power. The time that works best for me is early in the morning, before anyone else is up. For someone else it may be late in the evening, after everyone else has gone to bed. Maybe it’s on your lunch break. Maybe it’s on your commute to or from work. Wherever or whenever it happens to be, know that He will be there waiting for you, and He’ll always be glad to hear from you.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24