A few days ago, I asked, “Ever have a day when everything went right?” And of course we all agreed, that hardly ever happens. So we get infatuated with the days when things settle down to a productive hum. I was in that zone awhile back, a feeling all sorts of confident, I tackled some long overdue reorganizing and detailing. I should have listened to that tiny voice in my ear, but I didn’t. I decided it was time to move the little TV Tyler used to have his video game 
system hooked up to. If moving it, dust it too. Right? Seemed good at the time, but 45 minutes later I was once again wishing for a do-over. The red prong to the right audio component busted off in the receptacle. This means there is left-side sound but nothing coming from the right. ERGH! If this ever happens to you, let me just say that tweezers are not your tool of choice.
Could there be a lesson here? No, not about how often the back of a TV should be dusted; it’s not even about a place for everything, and everything in its place. Let’s go take a trip through 1Corinthians 12. It starts out with the truth about Spiritual gifts …. “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” Do you see the parallel here? The cord on the gaming system has three colors, three components, and intended for three very unique purposes. Yellow is the video strand, exhibiting the picture and action on the screen. White presents sound from the left speaker while red is responsible for the sound coming from the right.
Think about how those pieces fit together. I’m not an electronics genius, but from miniscule experience I know that plugging the red prong into the yellow receptacle doesn’t work. The prong fits, but produces nothing. Let’s go back to 1Corinthians 12:18. “God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. There are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary …” There’s a verse back in the Old Testament that fits in here. Ecclesiastes 4:12 “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” We talk about strength in numbers, we know the value of friendships and relationships, but do we understand our value in each of them? Do we realize we make a difference? Do we value each strand in our relationships? Not unlike the three cords of red, white, and yellow. Think about it. When one part of a gaming system or one part of a family or one part of a team or one part of a relationship is busted, the whole of that unit suffers. I don’t mean to compare our human, living relationships with inanimate objects that don’t matter much past their resale value. That’s not a fair comparison. But here’s the thing. We are all part of a whole of something. 1Corinthians 12:26 points out that “ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” Did you get that? One part suffers or one part is honored, the whole is right there with it.
We are often absent and separated from the whole of us, but we are still part of that whole. Here’s a way to stay connected, even when far away. It’s a challenge, it’s an exercise, it will take 3 seconds, and it will make strengthen your faith; it will bring you joy. Pray. That’s it. When someone comes to your mind pray for that person. “Dear Lord, s/he is on my mind. Protect and bless him/her.” That’s it. 1Corinthians 12:26 “if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” Pray it forward, dear friends. Pray it forward.
(p.s. My fix-it guy, Tim was able to pick the prong out of the receptacle of the TV, but the cord will never be the same.)
I just prayed for you, Jane.