Necessity is the mother of witty ideas—for which I am the Creator
Necessity is the mother of witty ideas—for which I am the Creator
Just because a job is usually done with pure muscle doesn't mean it has to be done that way. God gives us wisdom, creativity, and sometimes a few crazy ideas to solve everyday problems—if we're willing to listen and use a little leverage.
I was heading out to pick up some lumber and drywall. It was raining, of course, but not hard enough to stop the project. I had my trailer hooked up and a dolly loaded. My plan was simple: stack the six sheets of drywall onto the dolly standing sideways and roll them right over to the trailer.
The gentleman helping me thought my plan sounded fine. Being a strong man, he casually lifted his end of all six sheets onto the dolly at once—while I struggled on my end just to budge my side! I managed to move the dolly under the stack, and we tilted it back to roll it toward the driveway.
To make room, I suggested he go move his truck. While he was stepping away, I tried to re-insert the security pin into the dolly handle. In doing so, I pulled back just a little too far, and the entire load took off down the incline of the driveway! I managed to steer it toward the trailer and bring it to a stop, but there was no way I could lift that heavy stack back up to a standing position on my own.
When my helper walked back over, he looked at the situation and said, “Impressive, you’ve done this before!”
I smiled and said, "No... I just made it look good. Now, can you please help me stand this back up?"
Next came getting the sheets onto the trailer. He wanted to hoist all six boards high over the side rail at once. I suggested we lay them on top of the rail one by one and slide them across. He insisted on lifting all six together, which only made the bottom sheet get stuck on the rail. I am not strong enough to lift them all at once and I knew this, but he apparently didn’t seem to notice. After a lot of unnecessary heavy lifting, we ended up having to take them off and load them one sheet at a time anyway—with great success, finally getting us out of the rain. Sometimes wisdom outweighs strength.
It’s a classic example of how someone who isn't pure muscle finds alternative ways to achieve the exact same result. Just because a woman can do the same job as a man doesn't mean she has to complete it in the exact same manner. Two minds working in opposite directions to accomplish one task—eventually done by letting one mind lead!
Listening to the "Crazy" Ideas
I once needed a new headlight bulb for a Dodge van I was driving, but money was tight. I started looking around to see if I might have a headlight bulb laying around, which I often do since they come in packages of two. Unable to find anything, I thought about the Ford car that was no longer running sitting nearby, so a thought came to me: “What if?”
I pulled the headlight bulb out of the Ford and held it up next to the Dodge bulb. Obviously, they weren't identical, the notch alignment was different. But upon closer inspection, I decided that if I carefully trimmed off one tiny plastic outer tab on the Ford bulb, the rest of the housing would line up smoothly into the Dodge grooves! So of course, I tried it.
I snapped the electric line in, then plugged it into the car headlight spot and praise God it worked! I laughed and cried at the same time. God, you are so good! It lasted for the next two years and maybe longer after I sold the van. Now you know that was a God moment! Who would have listened... me and maybe you! God gives me a lot of crazy ideas and when I listen, they do work. When I don’t, I wish I had.
The Mirror Shock
My favorite story happened in a department store. I was browsing through the clothes racks when I walked directly in front of a giant full-length display mirror. Without thinking, I blurted out loud, "Boy, you're fat!"
Instantly, I heard a voice right behind me gasp, "Excuse me?!"
My jaw dropped. I turned around to see a heavy-set woman staring at me in total disbelief! Stammering and trying desperately not to laugh at the absurdity of the moment, I held up my hands and said, "Oh no, no! Not you! I meant ME! It's a mirror... I honestly don't have full-length mirrors at home, I only see me from the neck up, not the neck down, so I had no idea what I looked like!"
She stared at me for a second, and then burst into the loudest, most contagious laugh. Seconds later, both of us were standing in the middle of the aisle laughing until we cried.
I went straight out and bought three full-length mirrors that very week—mostly so I wouldn't risk getting my face punched in next time! It took about a year before I hung them up, but once I did, they worked. I took better care of myself and lost weight. Go mirrors! Yes, I put it back on…but hey, it's the thought that counts right… right on the scale. HMMM.
The Source of Workmanship
Whether it's finding a way to slide a heavy machine, trimming a Ford bulb to fit a Dodge, or facing the hard truth in a department store mirror—true wisdom and creative ideas come from within.
Exodus 31:3 — "And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship."
Should add “’in all manner of crazy ideas...”
Excerpt from new book No Rhyme or Reason. If this gives you something to reflect on today, click the button below to purchase the eBook. Thank you and make it a great day!
