Keeping It Simple

This year's cold temperatures have kept our furnace running overtime. It's made me really thankful that our furnace is in good working order. However a couple of weeks ago as I walked into the kitchen I heard a rather disturbing rattling noise coming from the vent. As I listened, my heart sank...this could not be good...rattling noises from a furnace are never good. I slowly walked down to the basement just to be sure the noise was coming from the furnace and sure enough - it was.

I'm probably not the only person who, upon hearing such a noise, begins to imagine all sorts of scenarios like...in the middle of the night when it's -35 the furnace will conk out or it's probably going to cost $3500 to deal with the problem because it needs to be replaced. As I walked back up the stairs I gave myself a pep talk; you know the kind..."It's probably not a big deal. Don't worry about it, worry doesn't help. Who knows, it might be something simple." By the time I got back to the kitchen I was rather disgusted with myself. The thought then was something along the lines of "WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?!" I have some great conversations with myself sometimes!

I plucked up my courage and called my friend's husband - he's in the heating/air conditioning business. He asked when last we had changed our filter and suggested we try that. His explanation was that when the filter is clogged the fan has to work harder and that can make it noisy as it runs. Follow me through my thought process..."It can't be that simple can it? I'm sure we changed that filter fairly recently. Didn't I check it not too long ago? It can't hurt. Might as well. Won't cost us anything."..."Are furnace filters supposed to be grey? I don't think so. Why didn't I pay attention to the reminder on the calendar to check/change the filter a couple of weeks ago?...No rattle. Hhhmmmm. Really? It was that simple? Wow - all that worrying for nothing. Boy do I feel silly."

Relate?

Here's the rest of the thought process as I came back up the stairs...

"Hey Lord...thanks. Thank you that it was such a simple solution. Thanks for being patient with me when I allow myself to focus on the problem rather than the Solution. Thanks for the reminder that most times Your solution is a simple one."

As I type the furnace is running...quietly...keeping our home at the temperature it's supposed to be at. Me? I'm trying to keep it simple...talking to God about what's going on and doing my best to hear/see the Simple Solutions He's offering.