Every
day for weeks, this goat (I’d say, “Stupid Goat” but I’d get in trouble with my
grandson), would get his horns through the wire fence and get caught. Every day, someone had to go out and free him
from his predicament.
Finally, after a
couple of weeks, the owner taped a piece of PVC pipe across his horns so that
he couldn’t get into trouble in the first place. It looks kind of funny, but it works.
There is a lesson for us.
How many times do we have a recurring sin or bad habit that keeps us stuck? How many times do we have to get bailed out
of trouble?
Because we have an underlying lack of trust in God, we get
involved in destructive behaviors or worse, sin. These tend to hang us up over and over
again. The difference between us and goats is that we can tape our
own piece of PVC across our weaknesses and sometimes help ourselves.
Here are a couple of “PVC Fixes” that might
be common to many.
- Pornography on the
internet—Set a content filter and let your accountability partner set the
password. I use X3watch
- Procrastination—Log on to www.habitforge.com and get a daily
reminder to accomplish that which you have been putting off.
- Gluttony—Join Weight
Watchers or another group.
I’m sure that some of the other goats probably make fun of
Mr. PVC, but he is able to make a go of it now.
Some of your friends may scoff at having external motivations,
but sometimes we need them to help us move forward.
Last thoughts: If we
don’t figure out our own PVC solutions, God may tape his own solution on our
head through circumstances, a board, or a spouse and the result may be a “time
out” for restoration. We need only look to the Old Testament to find numerous examples of God's intervention.
OK, now I’ll do my
timeout for saying “Stupid”.
