By Barbara Henning
The lesson I have learnt from “Fifi” – our iRobot automated vacuum cleaner.
I am of the opinion that each day is either an awesome day or a learning day. I seem to have many ‘learning days.’
‘Fifi’ has played an important part in our home for many years now and is at work every day. There are many days when we play ‘hide and seek’ like when it gets stuck under beds and chairs. ‘Fifi’ has the ability to close the bathroom door and then is able to keep going on with the work in there for the duration that the battery lasts.
Fifi’s dirt container is cleaned out daily, the filter washed weekly, and therefore the routine of a quick check is done regularly.
A few weeks ago, Fifi was literally screeching, and I had noticed for some time that FIFI’s energy was not lasting for as long as it should. I was convinced that Fifi was nearing the end-of-life stage, after all, Fifi has been around for such a long time. And so, I decided to give FIFI a closer inspection and ‘health-check’ – after all, there was nothing to lose by doing so.
Something that impacts Fifi’s ability to work happens to be that one of my hobbies that I enjoy is hand quilting. One specific quilt that I have been working on was stitched with invisible thread (not the best idea I have had). Anyhow, I have been determined to continue with using the invisible thread for the sewing. Well, as you can imagine, the thread can become easily camouflaged when it drops onto the coffee table, or carpet, and onto chairs. Fifi had been diligently going about the daily duties as per usual. In being diligent, in the work, it had also collected up some of the loose threads that had landed on the carpet and these threads had become entangled in the rollers located out of sight on the underside of the robot cleaner. In my daily routine of emptying the dust, I had failed to see that the invisible thread had entangled the mechanism – that was until I embarked on a “deeper investigation”.
In doing this deeper investigation I was reminded of Psalm 139:23-23
“Search me, O God and know my heart: Try me and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me; and lead me in the way everlasting”. Fifi’s trouble with the invisible thread challenged me, and it challenges us in our life. I can read scripture, pray and merely skim over my thought life, thinking that all is good. I am acting and doing as I should, however I am not achieving the same results or living the purposeful and fulness of life that Jesus gives. I need God to do a deeper work in my heart and to search for those “invisible threads” that may have become entangled within my thoughts and mind which are out of sight. Jesus said that He came to give us life and for us to have it abundantly John 10:10.
As we enter this week leading into Easter, my challenge to you is that you’ll spend time with God inviting Him to take a deeper look into your heart and mind. You will find this to be freeing and enriching with amazing results.