"To be broken is the beginning of Revival. It is painful, it is humiliating, but it is the only way." —Roy Hession, from The Calvary Road
Our refrigerator puked out the other day. I came home from work Monday and there was a puddle of water on the kitchen floor in front of it and it was only 52 degrees inside. It was also making a strange noise - like the clicking of a coffee pot left on too long. I remembered hearing that before I went to work and thinking it odd.
I immediately consulted Google and after taking off the front and back of the unit, and the inside back panel of the freezer section, I surmised it was probably/hopefully the starter relay for the compressor. Due to it being a bottom-freezer, and my lack of confidence, I searched for a nearby repairman online.
A Plus Appliance Repair & Parts seemed to be the closest to our house, so I called. The person who answered the phone said he could be there by 5 or 6 that evening to look at it. I was happy with that. Unfortunately, when 6 pm came and went, and 7, I got a little uneasy. Finally around 7:20 he called and said he was on his way. Unbeknownst to him, I was getting ready for bed, so I said, "How about 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon." He said that would be better for him too.
I had already put some of the more important items in the mini fridge we have in the basement. I crammed what I could from the freezer into our large cooler. I'm not sure it helped the freezer items though, because most of the meat was already thawed.
Anyway, Tuesday I came home from work and waited for the call. Just before 2 the repairman phoned and said he was on his way. When 3 pm came and went though, I started to get a little miffed. I was going to give him until 3:30 and was then going to call this place Drew suggested. At 3:20 the original repairman called back to verify my address. Apparently he'd written it down wrong. I could no longer hide my displeasure, but he said he would be there in like 2 minutes. I said he better be because I had someone else I was getting ready to call.
Well, he pulled up out front in just a few minutes. It was a bit awkward at first, but he quickly diagnosed the problem and had a new compressor starter on in about an hour. The $109 charge seemed fair enough, considering how much a new refrigerator costs (plus, like everything else, they're just a little hard to find nowadays). I was satisfied.
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I was not real happy with the repairman for misleading me both days about when he would be there though. I was even less happy with myself for losing my cool about it. These things happen. Things break, people make mistakes, and life goes on. It is how it is. The repairman apologized countless times, and I got over it. I also apologized for my frustration. I would probably call him again (though I am a little concerned that I didn't get a receipt. Hopefully one will arrive in the mail(?)).
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On the same Monday the refrigerator puked, Jane's new Airpods also stopped working. She was no longer able to pair them with her phone. She tried several troubleshooting suggestions from online, and finally contacted Apple support. They had no luck either, and directed her to take them to an Apple store or certified shop and they would either fix or replace them.
It seems like something else broke on the same day but I can't recall now what it was. At any rate, there are likely lessons to be learned.
What is really at stake when things break? Is it the end of the world? Not hardly. And, actually, even with the refrigerator, I felt like we could "rough it" for a few days. Plus, you know, we had the mini fridge. Sure it sucks to have to pitch a freezer full of meat. How did people use to get along before freezers though... or how do the poor and homeless get along still?
Perhaps the bigger issue isn't that things occasionally break and we are temporarily inconvenienced. It is how we respond. And how we respond to life in general. Responding, after all, is the only way to continue on.
I can do better in this area. Fortunately I am able to learn as well.
In the end, I am feeling fairly thankful for all the conveniences of life I have been blessed with, for people who have been patient with me, and for tiny bits of hope found in moments of silent reflection.
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"Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful." (Colossians 3:12-15 NLT)
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