Daily Affirmations - Day 1 - Call to Me: I Will Show You

This week's Theme: Call to Me

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Day 1: I Will Show You

Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know’ (Jeremiah 33:3).

 Ever since I purchased my washer (washing machine) several years ago, I have been frustrated by the the low volume of water it doles out for each load.

I'm not even sure how the topic came up in a recent conversation with my friend, but it turns out that she has the same issue with her washer as I have with mine. As we compared notes we agreed that the manufacturer's design-focus on water conservation and environmental responsibility was commendable, but way out of balance with the practical considerations of doing laundry. Actually washing the items and getting them clean, for instance!!

My friend shared with me some "secrets" she had discovered to coax the machine to fill an adequate amount for each load of wash. But I complained to her that not even the "Deep Fill" option she suggested had made much difference in my frustrating laundry experiences. I never ran the appliance without that option selected, and yet...

Our conversation, however, prompted me to explore the settings on my machine's dial more closely. It wasn't long before I discovered that if I pressed the Volume option and then the Deep Fill option, the machine would continue to fill. (I had always assumed the Volume button referred to the machine's alerts— not to the volume of water!). By repeating this four or five times, I could "force" the machine to add water.

The trouble was, I would have to stand by to make sure I pressed the combination of buttons again to resume filling each time it stopped. The water still never seemed enough, but it was definitely an improvement— (there had been times in my highly infuriating "laundry life" when I had filled buckets at the sink to add water to the load)!

I know, I know— hardly a blip on the scale of the world's troubles, and I do try to focus generally on gratitude; but nevertheless it has always been an annoying time-waster in the moment!

It eventually dawned on me that there might be a way for the machine to continue to "deep fill" on its own without my manual intervention. So after weeks of "standing guard" for ten minutes while the machine filled, I finally pulled out the manual. And there it was: Hold down the Deep Fill button for 3 seconds before starting the cycle...

Wow! That only took years! But it definitely isn't the first time I have been slow! And my needless floundering and frustration hasn't been confined to the world of laundry, either.

How often in life have I remained stuck in push-button mode, lost in endless loops and cycles— pouring bucketsful over glaring inadequacies— cobbling together my own "solutions" that resolve nothing.

And I neglect to go to the One who invites me, Call to Me, and I will answer you; I will tell you great things beyond the reach of your knowledge (Jeremiah 33:3 – New American Bible).

Yet, that makes so much more sense than my needless waste of time. Especially since, unlike my washing machine's makers, our God designs and creates with perfect balance!