Containing the Water, Maintaining the Power
The storm was powerful and relentless.
The staccato-like sound of the rain hit the exterior walls and windows of our house like machine gun fire concentrated on keeping an enemy force pinned down. Its repeated pounding upon our roof was reminiscent of a boxer pummeling away at an opponent on the ropes, determined to end the fight there and then.
Then the lights went out. The electricity stopped working and the basement sump pump (operated by electricity) ceased serving its purpose of pumping excess ground water away from the house…water that accumulated outside during every storm and rain.
At 9:00pm (4 hours after the electricity said goodnight), the water in the sump pump hole was about ten inches below the level of our basement floor.
At 10:00pm, the water level was three inches (or less) away from paying an unwelcome visit to our basement. Due to the havoc it caused a few years ago when 8 inches of it unceremoniously visited our basement during a similar inclement weather situation (not to mention the really nice damage bill it left us), we definitely weren’t looking for ole’ H2O to become an uninvited basement guest again.
And so, three quarters of the Schneidmill family sprang into action!
Armed with flashlights, several buckets and a hastily implemented plan to defend our “homeland” from the impending onslaught of a wet invasion, my “Treasure,” son, Paul B. and I began bailing water out of the sump pump like a hospital emergency room trauma team determined not to let a dying patient flat-line.
For almost two hours straight, we bailed water out of the sump pump hole in a desperate effort to keep the “river” from rising. Our fourth family member (the “Amazing Angela”) served as our weather and utilities company status monitor via a battery operated radio.
As we worked, constantly improvising our defensive posture by changing positions and tasks, I prayed to my Savior for three specific things:
Lord, 1) please let it stop raining, 2) please don’t let our basement flood again, and 3) please help the electric company to get the electricity turned back on.
The rain continued. Regardless of the amount of water we bailed and poured out into the sewer lines (innumerable gallons worth), the water never appeared to recede; but rather appeared to rise. On top of that, the electricity remained in the off position.
As the effort continued, two thirds of the three quarters of family “bailees,” approached the precipice of exhaustion and frustration. The final third of the two thirds (I’ll not tell you which one) worked silently and unceasingly; quoting Scripture mentally for self-strengthening, encouragement and hope.
The rain stopped sometime around 11:45pm. At 11:52pm, the electricity came back on; the sump pump whirred into operation and the three weary warriors watched the threatening water recede into the hole from whence it had risen with triumphant joy.
Later, I was learned one thing and was reminded of another.
The Bible says in Proverbs 17:14 (NASB) that “The beginning of strife is like the letting out water, so abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.” From our ordeal, I “saw” how our failing to contain the water or “letting” the water to flow “out” into our basement as “strife” (conflict and contention) within our home, just as if we’d engaged in a heated and uncontainable argument. Be on guard for and against that type of “letting out water” among your family members and with your fellow man. If and when necessary, we must work hard to “bail” out any anger we may have to contain such dissension before it can overflow - that’s what I learned.
What I was reminded of was that several years ago there was a big hurricane in our area that caused the electricity to be out for days. Everybody (me included) kept saying “We’ve lost power,” “We don’t have any power,” and “When will they turn the power back on?” During that time and the night of this water attack, God reminded me that I had never been without “power,” because I had His power at my disposal. In each of the incidents related, I had simply lost “electricity.”
Had I not tapped into His power, I might not have had the faith to trust and rely on Him for help or the strength to maintain the power He gave me to keep bailing long after my arms went into retirement.
In every instance God’s power, the real, true and only source of actual and living power, is always available to all of mankind, whether that is believed or not. There are conditions for access and use, but the initial fact remains true.
So remember, dear reader whom I love without measure, contain the water of strife by tapping into and maintaining the power of God.
Copyright © Paul Schneidmill 2008 All Rights Reserved