Today is election day – and we voted. Like many of our friends, the experience left a knot in my stomach, without even knowing the results yet. I was going to say, "without knowing who won the race," but I think it’s been stated ad nauseaum through every means and venue possible that, whoever is elected, not many of us will feel like we are really “winning.” Maybe Charlie Sheen…I don’t know… 

Anyway, we have been praying. Going through scripture to help us make sense of the state of our elections, country and world. A verse came to mind that doesn’t actually directly fit the context of our current situation, but is more of a revealing statement about my own relationship with God and what he continues to teach ME about Himself. 

In John 6, Jesus had been teaching his disciples, in their words, “hard teachings.” CRAZY stuff that they couldn’t understand yet, like Jesus telling them about this bread that just comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. They piped up and said, “Well, we’d like some of THAT bread.” Jesus said, “I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE.” And they were all…”Whaaaatttt?” I won’t recount all of those teachings here, but go read it – it’s good stuff.

The verse that came to mind in that chapter is from Peter. It is an exasperation. It is something you say when you have that moment of clarity and desperation at the end of your rope and you realize that…You. Are. Not. In. Control. Not even a little bit, in the grand scheme of things.

Disciples were abandoning ship like crazy and Jesus asked the Twelve, “You do not want to leave too, do you?”

In verse 68 – "Simon Peter answered him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.’ “

He says, “Lord, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GO?” That is the question I ask of God way too often for me to admit. Lord, what OTHER options do we have? Because honestly, Yours are HARD sometimes. We have tried putting our trust in ourselves, in our bank accounts, in possessions, in our friends, in our families, and yes — in our leaders. With Peter, I say that we have examined them all and they ALL eventually come up short. 

Peter was saying, “I realize now that the answer to LIFE – this one and the next – is only found in You, Lord.” Whether we come to this realization willingly or kicking and screaming, at times, He is asking me (and you), “Do you TRUST ME?” 

Do you trust Me with your relationships? with raising your kids? with loving your spouse? with your finances? with your job? 

DO YOU TRUST ME to use whomever you elect as the leader of your country for MY purposes? Do you think that is beyond My reach? Do you not remember how I pared down Gideon’s army to THREE HUNDRED to defeat the vast Midianite army of thousands, just so they couldn’t boast, “My own strength has saved me.” (Judges 7:2)?

So, maybe we don’t have a candidate that many of us can get behind to say, “Oh, well, ________ is going to SAVE us now.” It occurs to me that it wouldn’t be ridiculous to think that – maybe that’s by God’s design and not just a sucky hand we seem to have been dealt. I don't know for sure — those thoughts are way above my small human mind... 

I do know that, today, I pray, “Lord, we have nowhere else to go but You and I trust my life and my country to Your hands.” Amen.

Earlier this evening, I was checking out at our local Harris Teeter with a few items for supper and I had Erin and Landon with me. It’s one of my favorite stores and I genuinely enjoy going there to shop. That hasn’t changed, but this exchange happened with a very nice cashier, who I’ll call Janine, as we were finishing up the transaction…

Janine asks, “Mr. Locklair, are you a senior?”

My head pops up and I look at her, and then her helper, who was suddenly staring at the ceiling, and I start looking at the ceiling...for the cameras, right?

Today, I changed the belts on my ’98 4-Runner. To say that in so few words doesn’t really give justice to the whole ordeal. I mean, the YouTube video guy said he did it in about 45 minutes. My brother said it should take about 20 minutes. Well, it only took me about FOUR hours, but I got it done! 

I used to work on cars a lot with my Dad and brother – a loooonnng time ago, and I’m a bit out of practice. But I actually ended up enjoying the experience in the end. Yes, I saved about $250 by doing it myself, but it was more than that. Even though Dad passed away over 5 years ago, it was like he was right there with me today. 

So, this afternoon, I edged and mowed the front lawn, emptied the grass clippings into a paper lawn bag on the edge of the yard and went to weedeat the back yard. 15 minutes later, I came around front to push the lawnmower to the back yard to mow. 

No mower. I looked in the side yards, the garage, the back yard, under the trampoline - NO mower. I wondered, "Is punking people still a thing?" I traced my steps and I was certain I had left the mower right by the leaf bag on the curbside. Cuuuurbside... In a panic I looked down the street for a neighbor's old grill I had seen earlier - gone. 

We needed a better solution for our cabinet for cutting boards, pizza pans, cookie sheets, etc. - mostly vertical storage, but with one shallow shelf to store a couple of pans. We made this from leftover boards and screws in our garage. Cost for materials: $0. Justification for keeping my scrap bin full: priceless.

Our original cabinet space

BTW, this might go in my Old Redneck Workshop posts...the grooves going from side to side were the first ones I cut - the wrong direction! So, I just cut some new ones the right way.

Top shelf and bottom piece secured.

Add the dividers

All done!

Everything in place.

Today, Landon picked up the biggest screwdriver he could find and helped me reassemble the piano keyboard. It was fitting for a couple of reasons: 1) he was the one who poured a bottle of water into it last week and the one most thankful that it still works, and 2) it reminded me of a picture of me and my dad trying out my screwdrivering skills when I was about his age.

I’ve been thinking about that picture a lot today. Dad went home to heaven 5 years and 1 month ago today, and we all still miss him so much. He played many roles in life and we were all molded and impacted by his presence as a father growing up. So, we know the void when that strong presence changed to memories.

So, one of my running shoes broke. Don't wear them that often – hard to believe, I know...but I'm working on it. So I look up the number for Nike support and put it on a list where it sits for a few weeks. 

Finally, yesterday, I'm out running errands and I call them. Jack answers the phone and he's really helpful. I tell him the problem with my left shoe and he apologizes and assures me that they will take care of it. He creates a support case for me and tells me a couple of numbers they need from the shoe. I tell him I'm away from home, but I'll call my wife, get the info and call him right back. Great. 

“However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him—” 1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV

Yesterday, in church, Landon was quietly drawing on the back of Penny's bulletin with a ballpoint pen. I confess I was watching him from time to time, in part, to ensure he wasn't drawing on anyone's clothes. He was drawing blobs and rough circles, scribbles and lines - not bad for a three year-old.