Plates & Progress

Strong in number. Clearly outgunned. 

The fog of war clouded even the simplest, useful thought. Ears ringing. The wounded mounted. Canes. Crutches. 

I scanned the perimeter to see gaunt faces. Brittle bones. Soldiers, scared and angry. Haggard from the psychological warfare they had endured. 

Shouting voices boomed as one of our best men engaged. We lost him. I hung my head in familiar shame as he exited the battlefield with a limp. 

The foulness invaded the senses. Unforgettable. Haunting. It wafted through the air as the humming sky grew louder with every ticking second. 

“Seventy-one, now serving seventy-one!!!!”

It was my turn to fight. I landed some blows, but it was ultimately a draw. ‘

I succeeded in renewing the license plates for Miller’s car - but they couldn’t find my boat in the system. It’s due for a new registration sticker and I lost the renewal reminder postcard. 

The license office - or DMV if you’re from the city - is war. 

For you bible scholars I’m pretty sure the old testament word for DMV is “Sheol” commonly referred to as “Hell”. I’m convinced that hell is a license office, inside of a laundromat, located in Lawrence, kansas. It’s a place where you’re clearly next in line, but your number never gets called. Where the amount of clothes to fold never ends.   

But I’m no theologian . . . 

I did, however, spend about 30-45 minutes at the DMV today. It made me think about how having Jude has changed me. How God has used her condition to mold and renew me.

Before Jude I would have been complaining to no end. That trip would have derailed my entire day. I would have been rude to the agent at the desk. 

Now?

I still would not describe myself as “patient”. As I waited I still felt annoyed. But I also felt in control of my emotions. 

God knew that I needed a Jude for many reasons. One of those reasons is to refine me. To sand the rough edges. To chip off things that didn’t belong. To add some patience and grace where before i had zero.

I’m thankful that I’m not where I used to be. And I’m thankful for the lessons being a special needs dad has taught me. 

I’m not where I need to be, but by the grace of God, I’m not where I was. 

And I found the boat renewal postcard. 

I go back to the battlefield next week. 

Challenge 1: Pause and think about the challenges God has allowed in your life. How has it changed you for the better? Give thanks to Him. 

Challenge 2: Name the move these “Roman 1” license plates are from. It’s a favorite of mine.