Appliances are a mixed blessing; they teach me over and over the limitations of my knowledge. But where would I be without them?(!)

Whether it is the TV, my phone, or, this time, a refrigerator, I do not  understand what makes them work, no matter how detailed or illustrated their instruction manuals are.  I might as well read those manuals in the other languages which are always included! 

How-some-ever

Because I can follow some cues appliances give, I changed the water filter recently in the refrigerator, when the light turned red. Who wants unfiltered water, right? 

Shortly after,  the water dispenser started misbehaving: refusing to fill my glass and grumbling. Then, I heard strange “mechanical” noises coming from inside the left-side door. 

I complained about it — but did nothing  except  start using a Brita pitcher.

So there! I said to the water dispenser—make all the noise you want, I simply will not use you! 

For a few weeks that worked, until yesterday morning. 

Before the coffee had perked — Doug was the first to discover a flow of water from the refrige  to the stove, then under the stove and down to the basement. It’s like the water dispenser threw up the gallons of water it refused to dispense when pressed. 

Whew!

Let’s just say I got all my steps in yesterday and then some cleaning it up. 

I checked with a few repairman — however,  nobody knew what caused this disaster until our daughter and son-in-law suggested we check the water filter. Months ago, theirs cracked and made an even  larger frozen mess. 

So, we did the next thing.

We  replaced the apparently fine filter — the warning light was still glowing green —  with a brand-spanking new one and voila! Water flows from an uncomplaining dispenser!

First world problems, I know. 

But the hassle was a tutorial, as the Syrian-ation of Ukraine  enters its third week. 

Valentyna Konstantynovska, 79 years-old, holds a weapon during a basic combat training for civilians, organized by the Special Forces Unit Azov, of Ukraine’s National Guard, in Mariupol, Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)*

When I watch the news of the fight even old Ukraines are waging against their enemies — my excuses for not doing whatever the next thing is are lame. 

Lessons this Appliance Taught 

1. Don’t freak over what I don’t understand or can’t control—appliances or wars — just do what I can.
2. Filter any and all aggravations that prosperity has brought  through GRATITUDE. Replenish gratitude daily — hour-by-hour even!  
3. Life may be  messy today — Get a grip and a little perspective —
4. The morning’s mess may well have been a pop-quiz to test my resolve to Keep Calm and Carry On. And it came from the God whom I say I believe to show me stuff about me. (Deuteronomy 8:2 )
5. Pray for answers, understanding and ask for help. 
6. Keep problem solving: (Psalm 139:23-24 )
7. No matter how pricey, some filtration units fail, creating messes — change it! How I act and think — the way I filter information — just might need to change. 

“My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen.” (The AA Big Book, Chapter 6: Into Action, page 76) 

• PHOTO SOURCE

Keep praying, keep giving