Wheel of Wisdom

My dear husband can do almost anything. He is a brilliant mind. He sees things no one else sees. He once repaired a busted radiator hose on the side of the road with a zip tie and a rubber boot. The recipient of this MacGyver auto repair swears he drove it another 100 miles before he had it professionally restored.

Oddly enough Justin loves to watch Antique Road Show. He can guess the price of antiques to within tenths of a cent. It’s an odd superpower that is the only thing that makes the Antique Road Show a tolerable form of entertainment. A Russian tea cup from 1819 with a chip in the handle? Justin will matter of factly say, $3967.22. And then the announcer will say “$3967.23, because of the chip.”

Weird.

Cow herding, business owner, hand cut French fry chef, plow boy, Antique Road Show champion, diaper changing, bi-lingual, house building, mechanical genius, MacGyver, hotty… He’s an expert of much. Except for … Wheel of fortune.

He’s so bad at Wheel of Fortune the children find sport in asking him to play. And he has no idea he is bad at it. He will bark out the most absurd answers and then is continually shocked that he gets it wrong.

Justin: GEORGE WASHINGTON WENT TO THE MOVIES AND ATE SOME CAKE!!!!

Actual answer: Double Dutch Jump Roping

Justin: CARGO PLANES DROPPING TEDDY BEARS TO SUFFERING CHILDREN IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES!!!!

Actual answer: Carmel Corn with peanuts

It’s extremely odd.

But I respect the unfailing confidence. Every time it comes on he says, “oh! Wheel of fortune! I am really good at this!”

Hmm. I think… it’s a fluke; maybe he is good at it? He is good at everything else?

Justin: THE BELLS ARE NOW TOLLING FOR THE DEATH OF JOHN ADAMS!

Actual answer: Banquet Chicken Pot Pie

Nope. It’s just not his thing.

And more that it is funny, slightly frightening, I find it very endearing … a childlike determination.

And it has me thinking about a naive faith that I am craving in this season of my life. I want to believe God at a whole new level. To trust Him to heal relationships, bind up ickiness, change things that I wasn’t sure could be modified, and develop things in myself and my children that I was unaware were even possibilities.

I find myself praying boldly, like shouting wrong puzzle clues, “God open the eyes of my heart! Lead to places unknown, open the floodgates, teach me!”

And most the time I am eager and happy to see it was the sincere prayer, and I see something new and believe something I didn’t think I’d ever understand.

 

Other times, I am shocked at what I am seeing and what He wants me to say. In that aspect, it is scarier to shout out. Things I held firmly as truths that I see with new eyes, in a new light, it’s confusing, in a good way.

And all of the sudden there’s a confounding moment where I am not quite sure what He’s showing me and where He is leading me. And, I think I like that too. I like the idea of not knowing exactly the right answer and readily admitting that I am seeking rather than I am aware for sure. It’s humbling, and it is comforting to relinquish that to the Master of the Universe. I don’t have to have all the answers to be a seeker of God and His Goodness.

And on that note I know I can rest easy tonight basking in the hope of new-found wisdom tomorrow and joyful shouting:

ROLLER DERBY FRIED BURRITO WITH CHILI AND CHEESE!!!

And learning it was simply:

“If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good work with the humility that comes from wisdom.” James 3:13

Or whatever He will show me after a good night’s sleep.

May your floors be sticky and your calling ordained. Love, Jami

NOTE: I read this to Justin,  seeking permission to publish… He said, “Wait? I am good at Wheel of Fortune…”  I love that man.