07-22-25

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 22, 2025
Donna and I have definitely moved into old people’s world as we have been extraordinarily excited about a new refrigerator. It arrived after I left town, so Donna has been learning all the basics. Guess what! It’s not like the old days when you just plugged it in and it got cold. Among the questions, come to find out, is one that is rather important. What temperature do you set the freezer and refrigerator? And to no surprise, there are lots of opinions online. The suggestions are relatively close, but some people are pretty clear that the freezer must be set at 2 degrees, not zero. And others are adamant that it much be one below zero. Come to find out, a lot of it has to do with the make and model, but also the temperature you keep your house and the capacity for air to reach the back of the unit where it is drawing in the air. I sort of miss the days of plugging it in and expecting it to do what it is supposed to do. 

Of course, this got me to thinking as I was driving to my hotel today. We would all say that a relationship, whether friendship, marriage, parenting, or work, requires attention. But how much? There are going to be people who tell you, “It must be X number of hours every week! No exceptions!” Maybe in theory, but I think we need to take into account the make and model, or in the case of a human being, the uniqueness of that person. And how much air is that person getting? There are times when someone is getting plenty of air, whether that is exercise or time with the Spirit of God (translated as the divine breath or wind), but there are other times when something is keeping them from that life-giving breath. In those moments, a little extra attention might be necessary. There are times when I know that my wife has had plenty of Bruce time, and a little time by herself would be life-giving. But there are other moments when she’s needing a bit more attention. It is true for me and for all of us. All relationships need attention, but one definition of attention is not going to work with every person or situation. 

I have a feeling we’ll be adjusting the temperature settings on the refrigerator and freezer for the next few weeks until we determine what works best for our specific make and model. However, once we’ve found the optimal settings, it’s unlikely to change significantly. Of course, humans are not appliances, and what works today may not necessarily work a year from now. And that’s perfectly acceptable.

Thank you for your grace, O Giver of life and love, that meets us right where we are in every moment of life. May we learn from you when it comes to the relationships that bless our lives. Amen.