A few years ago we were with friends, armed with the plan all to be huddled around their television set and to be deeply engrossed in a movie.
Our gang of kids had a different idea of what a good, entertaining evening would be, and they opted to go upstairs to watch their own choice of flick.
Of course, what kid in their right mind would watch the boob-tube without snacks?
Popcorn, peanuts, chips, sodas…. anyone?
The modern-day version of popping-corn went in and out of the microwave, bag after bag, and drinks were doled out into glasses. The gang of kiddies all scurried off, (even with our intended portions), and left the adults to fend for themselves.
Sigh… Part of the theatre-style ambiance is the smell of buttered popcorn wafting through the air, isn’t it? Who could imagine going into a “movie house” without it? Unfortunately, the odour was still hanging in the room’s natural air flow, so we couldn’t help but think about the alternative edibles that we, ourselves, could munch our way through… if we could find some.
The wife poured out the soft drinks over the glistening ice cubes, and anxious to get on with the movie before it got too late, we located a long-forgotten “secret stash” hidden in a cupboard. We put all the goodies into bowls, and sat down to make ourselves comfortable.
Slowly, we crunched our way through the cornucopia of junk foods until they had all but diappeared, but the hunger pangs still continued for some. Still feeling a tad peckish, the husband rose and quietly excused himself to forage through their pantry cupboard for more snacks.
Victory came when he produced a return engagement toting a hidden bag of jumbo bag of everybody’s ever-favourite, ever-popular potato chips.
With one eye mindful on the movie, so as not to miss the building momentum, he yanked on the top of bag in both directions hoping to unseal the edible snack. It didn’t work.
He tried to tear the top. That didn’t work either.
With the movie-mood still building, he didn’t want to go get the scissors. He knew he could grab it with his teeth and give it a rip. Never mind the company present.
Nope, it appeared to be sealed so airtight it was it difficult to do even that, and his challenge to get it open still continued. We all sat with one eye on him now, instead of the movie, and giggled at his quandary.
After several more irritating moments trying to open the bag, while not taking his eye off the screen, we were all in hysterics. Truly, it was far more entertaining to watch him than the movie!
He finally was inspired to resolve the issue by clamping the bag between his knees and clapping both sides of the bag simultaneously.
He was quite relieved to hear the “pop-snap” sound of the bag as it finally opened. Without looking down, he groped around for the opening.
No longer could we hold in or stifle any snickers and “guffaws”. Uncontrollable laughter erupted without any hesitation, and his eyes spun to us widely to see what what was happening. He looked a tad confused as we held our stomachs, rolled from side to side, rocked back-and-forth, and slapped our hands ventedly on the on the furniture…. all the while gasping for air between the snorts and wheezes!
And that was when he noticed it.
His bag of chips was still unopened at the top. The bottom however was wide open…. and as he lifted it higher, a pile of crumbs were added to the confetti of potato-chip crumbs that already surrounded him… on his pants, the chair, and strewn about the carpet!
He smiled this sheepish grin that only he could have mustered, shook his head, and finally lost it himself! We continued to howl with hysterics at the antics as he stood to his feet and chips continued to rain down onto the rug.
It would keep momentarily, it wasn’t like it was a pile of messy liquid that would leave a permanent stain. The decision was made. He would deal with it later, and the vacuuming would wait, so that we could all hear the end of the movie.
In the meantime, he would keep his feet still so he wouldn’t mangle any more crumbs into the carpet. All in one fluid motion, he twisted, swept the crumbs from his chair, sat back down, and stayed focused on the movie he wanted to finish.
The sucking up of his snack’s untimely demise, was a slow, tedious process, and the greasy particles had even made their way down into the crack and crevices of the insides of the chair. Who would have thought that one teeny bag could have made such a mess?
Even he had to admit that the whole adventure was just all too silly for words. But, it all goes to show you that when the bottom falls out of your situation and things seem to be swirling around you, you have one of two choices – it’s laugh or cry.
Isn’t life… and our faith-walk… just like that?
We too, can choose to laugh or cry “when the bottom falls out”. We too, can choose to keep our feet positioned where they are, (or to step out of the spot that we are in), so as not to make the mess any worse. We can opt to sweep things to one side for one moment, and to stay focused on what we have left to finish dealing with.
After things “snap”, the details of cleaning up will still have to happen, one way or another. It helps to learn, however, that sometimes there are some things which can keep momentarily, as is all too soon to rush in and deal with them. At other times, particularly when it is a very messy situation with a lot of fall out, we may need to “suck it up” and deal with it right then and there, so that a permanent stain or mark does not result.
You may be tired… or you may think it isn’t all that important… or you may scramble in a spirit of urgency… but do use the energy in the best and most efficient way. Most discerningly, deal with the task when it is the correct time to deal with it, and find the strength that you need….
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:13)
It is all so simple. Look to Him for the strength, and wisdom to do what needs to be done… when the pressure seems to come from both sides… when life appears to “snap” and leaves you with crumbs… like “when the bottom falls out…”