my three foot bookcase
Have you ever tried to put together a 6 ft. bookcase?
I have.
Epic Fail.
Note to self: Let a person of the opposite gender put it together next time. Preferably an attractive, single, God-fearing male individual . . . (Can I get a 'err errr' from all my single ladies?!)
Instead of a 6 foot bookcase, I now am the proud owner of a 3 foot bookcase and three broken pieces. But wait - before you grab that Kleenex box (because I know you are weeping in sadness), take heart! I have successfully assembled a very unsturdy, yet resourceful and efficient table with the remaining broken pieces. What can I say? "When life gives you lemons . . ." is the only thing that comes to mind.
But really. I didn't intend break the thing while attempting to assemble it. Trust me, I wanted a six foot bookcase. A 6 foot English Education major needs a six foot bookcase. Yet, here I am typing, sitting comfortably to the left of my 4 foot black, oak-finished bookshelf. It's staring at me with spite because I've dwarfed the poor fellow.
Before you draw any preconceived notions about my ability to follow directions, allow me to defend myself. I actually put it together correctly - the first time. No lie. I read the directions as carefully as my closest friends read me, and I had the pieces beautifully assembled. But then I realized that maybe one of the pieces was upside down. So naturally, I fixed it. In the process, I ripped the cardboard backing . . . which is my 'thumbs down' to this particular product . . . who in their right mind would make a bookshelf out of cardboard? Send that executive packing, my friend. Such a sad picture of quality sacrificed for the demand of efficiency. . .
stepping off my soapbox now.
my apologies.
After a few rips in the cardboard backing, I finally assembled the shelf the 'correct' way. Fast forward about 13 minutes and 26 seconds . . . and that's when I realized it. I had it the correct way . . . THE FIRST TIME. I just had the entire thing upside down. Looking back, this is when I should have put down the hammer and slowly walked away.
But I was the creator of this problem, so I was going to fix it.
For the rest of the story, all you have to do is rewind. Cardboard rips and all.
As you are imagining (I'm sure) things just got worse. I don't think I need to explain myself further. If I did, I would say that the holes in the bottom part of the shelf were stripped and thus no longer useful . . . and that, my friends, is how you get a dwarfed 6 foot bookcase and a pathetic makeshift shelf.
The good news is that I'm not too torn up about it (HA. get that ridiculous pun outta here!) My dwarfed bookshelf makes me happy. But I've learned a couple valuable lessons through my interesting bookcase escapade.
1. In the words of my witty father, "I think you should stick to filling up those bookshelves instead of trying to assemble them." Tochee, Pops. Tochee.
2. I should ask for help . . . particularly the help of an attractive, single, God-fearing male . . . (too bad those are about as common as the Grebes bird . . . have you ever heard of those furry little birdies? No? My point exactly.)
3. Despite my flawless reading of the directions, I still failed. This reminded me of the atlas of life . . . aka the Bible. The Lord provides me with the ultimate map (the Bible), but without some help (Christ, the Holy Spirit), I'm going to get lost.
And finally, the last lesson.
This past school year I've had to let go of some personal expectations. Expectations for the summer, for what I want to do when I "grow up" . . . you catch my drift.
This past school year I've had to let go of some personal expectations. Expectations for the summer, for what I want to do when I "grow up" . . . you catch my drift.
I am continually re-learning the lesson of Isaiah 55:8-9...
'My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' says the Lord. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."
In a nutshell, I'm learning to let God build my bookshelf. It's going to be a flawless six footer.
I'm handing over the hammer and trusting that He will provide me with sweet memories to fill the shelves - no matter where I find myself or who is by my side.
My prayer?
Surprise me, Jesus. Surpass my silly expectations. Build my bookshelf.
Surprise me, Jesus. Surpass my silly expectations. Build my bookshelf.
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