Sunday, I woke up a little more frigid than usual, realizing that my furnace was not actually blowing heat, just a little 60 degree, recirculated air. A quick call to my dad and then to the furnace repairman, and I was gearing up for a cold day of sitting by the space heaters.
Until the furnace decided to kick back on — operating rather intermittently over the next couple of days. It took a service call, a sales rep, and two technicians to finally finish the job today of installing a brand new heat pump and furnace, with 10-year warranties and other kinds of life-time guarantees. Plus I have a new programmable thermostat, and supposedly my high efficiency will earn me some credit with the local utility company. Not bad for three days of chill.
In the midst of recovering from chemotherapy and at the risk of oversimplifying Advent, I almost felt a little presumptious buying an appliance for its 10-year qualities. Who knows what this next year may bring; let alone 10 years.
But as I reflected on what the expectation of advent really means during this season, I am reminded that even for a person with cancer, waiting for Jesus is not about waiting for death. It’s about waiting for life, better life, longer life, more glorious life. When Jesus comes, I won’t need a new heat pump and furnace, but as long as I am living, feeling the need for warmth and comfort, heat pumps and furnaces are no more presumptious than food and clothes. They are icons of the life we seek in the one true Life Giver.
This evening as I sit in my new, warmly efficient home, I feel full of the hope of heaven, that Jesus is coming again to give us the life he promised and that we experience in part even now.
This chapter in your book is refining and deepening your writing even more such that many more are coming to read (and love) your words. Perhaps there truly is purpose in it all. He’s using you, Charity. Thanks for being a willing instrument.
Cancer and cold do not sound like a comfortable couple. It seems ironic that my children use the word “chill” as an alternative to what we “older” folks used to refer to as “cool” and that both of them mean “good.”
Anyway, so glad that you’re warm now and praying that you’ll be kicking yourself for not getting the 20 year warranty when that darn thing breaks down in 10 years and 1 day….
Craver — You may remember that last year I kept the thermostat on 60 degrees because I was afraid of my heating bill. I’m really more of a 68 degrees kind of gal. Thankfully, this year I can be a little warmer and save money.
Nancy — Oh, the live we experience now is so full of joy and mystery. Good to hear from you — and you’re right, the world sounds different when we’re different.
LL — The chill wasn’t too bad. Thank the Lord for space heaters.
Ted — So good to hear from you. Thanks for your encouragement.
Charity,
This is a post I hope I never forget. Important words for us all. Thanks!
And you have warmed my heart with this meditation! Sorry you had to sit in the chill for a few days. That, too, has a metaphorical quality.
yeah, don’t just so many things sound stranger and stranger as we are more and more changed? the things i hear and see of the world are getting just plain silly soundin! makes me shake my head a lot wonderin if i heard right.
i like your words…”,i feel full of the hope of heaven,that Jesus is coming again to give us the life he promised and that we experience in part even now.”…those words help me.
love to you!
Thermostats will be a non-issue in heaven.
60 degrees is not comfortably warm, and I’m glad you got it going again. The Craver family sleeps with the thermostat set to 63 in the winter. My oldest daughter hates it, but the rest of us are used to it now. Are you more of a cool weather or hot weather person?