Where Are My Keys?

Losing my keys has become a huge standing joke around the Mission and Church. The joke is larger than life at this point because I really have been doing much better (but that would be a lesson on how a bad reputation is hard to shake – even if it is just keys). I have lost them so many times per week in the past that I just won’t shake the joke.

The frustration of making the same mistake over and over and of having a flaw this silly really got to me. The problem had to be solved. About 15 years ago in total frustration, I asked God, “Help me. Please help me. I am an idiot. Help me find the stupid – sorry – keys. You know where they are at and I would not blame you if you didn’t want to show me because I do this so much but you know everything. Inspire me or someone here to think the right thought or to say ‘Aha! I know where they are at.” We found them almost instantly. I learned a great lesson that day.

Nine years ago we were in Nicaragua on short term missions using a huge planer to hew and finish wood plank for a mission. The planer was on a 30 foot by 30 foot concrete porch with other woodshop tools all around. In replacing the blades, 4 critical springs had been placed in one of our hats on a workbench. Needless to say when we needed them they were gone, the hat was on the clean floor, and there was a pile of scrap wood shavings about 3 feet high by 20 feet long onthe side of the porch. A Nicaraguan worker had volunteered to sweep the floor and now the project was at a standstill because of four one-inch long springs. The native workers giggled as we explained (they did not know God) that we must stop looking and pray because God knew where the springs were. When we prayed in English, I asked God to really do this now as a testimony. The group of eight of us and three Nicaraguans spread out on the porch and pile and in 30 seconds found the springs in the most unlikely places – two in the giant pile of wood shavings – and one of the Nicaraguans had the privilege of finding a spring himself.

I sit in counseling – a total idiot – wondering, “God how in the world can I help these people. Part of me wants to say, ‘Duh!’ while another part wants to just cry with them,” I continue, “God, they have heard the answer, know the answer from others, they need to change, what can I do or say?” It has always been this way. I am simply not good enough to believe that I can affect change in these people’s lives so I rely on God. I pray while I listen and then follow God even when the path seems silly. I have asked some ridiculous questions at God’s prompting (like, “I know we are doing some Biblical financial counseling but can I ask you have you guys been faithful to each other.”) and seen God work miracles.

I have stood on top of an unfinished, plywood church roof during a building project (it almost seems unreal now as I write it) with a horrible, black summer storm moving. We gathered the volunteer team on the roof, knelt and prayed saying to God, “We trust you entirely and know that the building is only wood and stone. If it gets ruined, we trust you but make the rain not rain here.” As we went back to work, never stopping again, it rained on all four sides of that property but not on that property. I have prayed that God would help us figure out and diagnose electrical problems and heating and air problems. I have helped or fixed things that we should never be able to fix but with prayer God would direct us to try this or check that or call this person.

The success never stops. Every time that I am faced with a problem, a diagnoses or decision that needs to be made, I pray and He answers. I have come to see over the years that there is great wisdom in being able to communicate with a God who knows everything about everything (and, the location of everything!). I have a reputation for being able to fix software problems, find the problem with a sound board, flip the right switch, ask the right question or to help someone make their decision or solve their problem quickly. My batting average is way over 900 but you need to know what I know: it is God’s batting average.

I am just a guy who lost his keys too many times and then found himself believing in a God that really cared, really knew and if asked would most often really help in real life problems and decision processes. Oh, it could be coincidence but after 15 years of constant and consistent results, you would have to really deny truth to not give God credit.

I encourage you to make certain that you believe in God, pursue him with fervor and ask him everything. There are enough canned answers and leaders trying to fake their way through it. Say it proudly, “My Dad knows everything – let’s ask Him.” Find your keys, get rid of your common sense (it is what got you lost in the first place), throw out the canned answers and find passion and solutions in a God who answers even the little things. Solomon did.

Rely on your Father as if you were a silly Child. That is why Jesus gave His Life.