A Breenger

Breenger: someone who rushes into things.

I am known in my family to be a bit of a ‘breenger’. I blame it on my Leitch gene. Calum has said to me in the past ‘see you, you are a breenger, just like your Dad’!

A couple of years ago, we needed to buy a new washing machine. At last, after washing clothes for a family of 8 everyday, my old machine could no longer be repaired. With great excitement, I ordered a new machine with a larger drum and a 1600 spin! I was super pleased and expected this machine to save me time and effort, on all the washing I have.

My new machine arrived one Friday, midday, Calum was still at work. We had a busy weekend planned at church, and I thought I would be such a helpful wife, if I took out our old machine, and plumbed in the new one. After moving into this old house, I have learned lots of useful skills, I knew how to disconnect and attach the water pipes.

Finally, soaked in sweat, with some major pulling and pushing, I had the old machine out and the new one connected up. Already a few days without a washing machine, I had a mountain of washing to get through. I quickly put the first load on, and started getting organised for dinner, before Calum came home.

I was super proud of myself, and thought how pleased Calum would be, to come home and find that it had all been done for him. I had text and told him that the machine had arrived, but was leaving it as a surprise that I had already fitted it. However, when the machine started to go through the spin cycle, it began to make a terrible noise. The whole house began to vibrate, as the machine bounced around in the corner, where it was meant to be. Children began to appear from their bedrooms upstairs, to see what on earth was going on. As I physically sat on the machine, trying to keep it from moving out of its corner, I remember wondering if this was normal during a 1600 spin! 😂🙈 I thought ‘I can’t have this every time I use this speed, it won't do’.

I watched the clock on the machine countdown till it was nearly finished, and at the last moment the screen flashed, an error appeared and then the electricity went off in the house, the machine had tripped the fuse switch. After I sorted out the electricity, I picked up the installation manual and began to read it. I should have done that to begin with. I soon realised, that in the manual it told me during installation, I was supposed to take out the bolts, that hold the drum in place during transit. I had not. I felt very very foolish. The machine would no longer turn on, and when I tried to, it tripped the electricity off again.

If only I had taken the time to read the manual first, this would never have happened. It’s not that it was in a different language and I couldn't understand it. It was there sitting on my breakfast bar, in plain English, with simple diagrams to even help me. I just presumed I knew better.

How often do I do the same with the bible? I believe the bible is the word of God. It holds the answers to life's questions. It teaches me what God wants me to know, and reveals to me who God is. Yet often I fail to pick it up and read it, to allow it to guide me in my life. It’s not that I can say I don't have access to a bible. We have plenty in this house, and nowadays it’s easy to get it on an app on your phone. But I can still fail to read it the way I should, I just presume that I know enough and I know better.

There are many stories in the bible that give examples of when people go ahead with their plans, presuming that it is the right thing to do, and forget to consult God. How many times were the children of Israel defeated in battle, because they presumed God was with them. They thought they knew what they were doing. They had previously asked God what to do, and he had guided them in battle and led them to victory. But they became so comfortable and confident, that they forgot to include Him in their plans. Then, when they were defeated in battle, feeling confused and foolish, they returned to consult God and soon realised the error of their ways.

I had become proud and so confident that I knew what I was doing, that I didn't even think twice about reading the manual. What a fool I felt, when I explained to Calum and to the engineer what I had done.

Many of us know the story in Luke 2 of Joseph and Mary, when they journeyed home from the passover at Jerusalem, and they presumed Jesus was on the journey with them. When they realised that they had been wrong, they rushed back to Jerusalem to find him. Three days later they found him in the temple. I know I felt awful having to wait a whole weekend, before I found out if my brand new machine was beyond repair, and if we’d need to buy another one. I can’t even begin to imagine, how it would feel waiting three days to find your son again. All because they presumed to know something without checking first.

I learned my lesson the hard way. But how often am I still making the same mistake, but insteading failing to pick up my bible and read what God says. It is the most important manual I possess, but so often I treat it like I don’t need to read it. I presume to know best and trust in my own instincts, when faced with everyday life, instead of turning to God in the bible.

How about you? During lockdown have you been asking questions that you wouldn't normally be asking? Do you ever wonder what life is really about, or do you presume that you already know? Try reading the bible, it’s the best thing you could ever read.

I will never forget that feeling of foolishness, as I explained to Calum what I’d done, and watched the horror on his face, as he anticipated buying another brand new washing machine. It was just me at my best, breenging on ahead as usual. Don’t be a fool like me and rush through your life without taking time to read God's manual for your life.

I was honest with the company's engineer and explained what I had done wrong. He said the amount of damage that had been done to the machine, was to such an extent that there had to have been more faults with it, than what I had done wrong. Thankfully we received a brand new machine with no extra charge. I won’t ever make that mistake again. Anything that we get now I read the manual over and over, before I do anything with it. My prayer is that I do the same with my bible too.

“Those who trust their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe.”

Proverbs 28:26

“For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.”

Psalm 33:4

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”

Psalm 119:105