Circumstances and Column Titles

January 1, 2001
Michael Evans
  

Circumstances

Day: December 25, 2000

Time: 8:45 p.m.

Location: Upstairs Bathroom

Problem: Read on.

It happened once two years ago so I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised that it happened again…but I was. 

We had just returned home from an overnight stay at the in-laws who live twenty-three minutes away when it happened…again.

After a wonderful Christmas Eve service we drove into the big city to celebrate Christmas Eve with Karla’s  family.

As always we had a great time.  After spending the night and all of Christmas day with the in-laws we decided to head on home.

When we arrived at our home Karla began washing the clothes and I hopped onto the Nordic Track (located in our upstairs bedroom) because it seemed like the right thing to do.

Ten minutes into my workout a frantic six year old ran into the room with a smile on his face saying, “Dad, there’s water all over the bathroom floor.”

Thinking he was joking I continued to exercise another six seconds before he uttered those six words that tend to take all the fun out of a good joke: “…Mom told me to tell you.”

Now frantic I jumped off the Nordic Track and ran to the bathroom, which is next door to our bedroom and sure enough there was nearly an inch of water over the entire floor, moving inexorably to the lowest point which was to the south and west.

The washing machine drain pipe which has a slight negative slope for 14 inches in the basement had frozen solid (again) thus preventing the free flow of lots of dirty water from the second story. 

Karla, unhappy camper that she was, was already working diligently at soaking up the cold dirty water as I grabbed every moisture absorbing thing I  could find. 

We simply had to gain the upper hand over the water which was by this time flowing out into the hallway carpet. 

Just as we finished mopping up the floor our two sons came with more good news.  “Dad, water is coming through the den ceiling.”

Within a matter of thirty-five minutes the whole ordeal was over, except for the yellow water stains on the ceiling and a tub full of towels.

So what’s left then?  Another family memory, a decent story for a newsletter, and the objective and unalterable facts surrounding the way mom and dad handled one mini-crisis.

The Bible tells us, “Rejoice, always. Again I say rejoice!”  It also says “Be thankful in all circumstances…” 

The trouble with circumstances is that they seldom give fair warning.  They’re just there all of the sudden, just like our responses. 

For good or ill, our responses to circumstances often come in the form of spoken words, words that reveal the heart like nothing else. 

James said “…no one can tame the tongue…with it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men…from the same mouth come blessing and cursing.  My brethren these things ought not to be this way” (James 3:8a, 9-10 NASB).

Don’t lose the force of these simple words. “My brethren these things ought not to be this way.”

The Apostle Paul instructs fathers specifically, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

Hmm.  Why would Paul aim his words at fathers?  Surely Paul’s specific mention of fathers does not infer that it is okay for moms to provoke their children to anger?

Of course not!  It’s just that Paul knew that fathers would be more prone to provocation than moms.  Therefore, the pointed words here are aimed at dads. 

Provoking our children is a dollar-store substitute for the priceless and precious discipline and instruction of the Lord.  Dads, let’s be striving with the Lord’s help to maintain self-control and to let good, uplifting, life-giving, encouraging words flow forth from our lips to our children and spouse.

Column Titles

It is my  hope and prayer that this column can be an encouragement, particularly to fathers, to do just that…and more.

Last month this column was titled Patros Logos.  So it is this month as well,  but, what in the world does Patros Logos mean?    Allow me to explain the title. 

As I struggled to find a name for this column I found myself at many dead-ends.  Finally I asked some folks from our church to help me brainstorm.

I want to thank Jean Koch, one who appreciates words, who came up with the idea of something Latin or Greek having to do with Fathers and words.

Patros Logos was the first thing that came to mind, since pater means “father” and logos means “word.”  Literally, Patros Logos means “father word.”  

But when we decline the nouns and put them in the correct case with the correct endings A Father’s Words  becomes pater logous (sounds like goose)?  So, if you are a Greek scholar please indulge me. 

For our purposes Patros Logos will stand for “A Father’s Words.”  At least until next month. 

May the Lord Himself, that great shepherd of the sheep keep you pure and holy in thought, word and action as you seek to know Him.

And while you’re still thinking about it you might want to wrap some insulation around your basement drain pipes as well.