They Just Didn't Know

They Just Didn’t Know

Theology in the Trenches

by Kathleen Kjolhaug

Patiently the little couple waited. Each morning found them in sync with the rhythm of the day before. Predictable it was but then again, it was home so why shouldn’t it be comfortably so?

Sleeping in long enough to let the body know it could do as it willed came easy enough and so they did. The two of them…perhaps an hour or so apart they arose…but as there was no need to be up and about…life was good. One could move when one chose.

Once up, a stroll to the kitchen to ready the coffee was first on their list. No stress in waiting…for they had time. Once the green light upon the automatic coffee maker went on…off they did go to ready themselves for the day. Patiently waiting to taste the likes of the aroma now wafting in the air, they dawdled through the list of routine activities and some forty-five minutes later they would meet at the round table for discussion.

They noted the birds mid-winter, spring, summer and fall. The changing of the seasons brought focus on the falling leaves that needed gathering and the summer’s grass growth filled their conversations. Neighbors coming and going from their vantage point of the living room window trumped the movement round the neighborhood and take note they did. When illness fell upon anyone nearby, concerned they were…for they loved their neighbors as themselves.

That forty-five minutes slipped easily by before they would enjoy each and every sip. Conversation was renewed with vigor as they nibbled on the breakfast left-over’s while washing them down with the rich liquid they’d been awaiting.

Day in and day out this went on until…

One day, a visitor, unbeknownst to them, took note. While waiting for a freshly brewed cup…the wait was just a bit too lengthy for his taste, and he began to wonder aloud. “So, does your coffee always take this long to make? It sure doesn’t seem to be quite as automatic as it should be.”

“Yes,” they replied. “Sometimes we have to wait for a good hour for it to be done. But, eventually, the pot is filled and we have our coffee!”

A few days passed when the little couple on Park Avenue received a package in the mail. An animated phone call ensued shortly thereafter telling all about a new coffee maker they had received in the mail from the visitor, my brother. “Man, do we ever get our coffee fast now! It’s amazing! In about five minutes, it’s all done and ready to go!” The excitement couldn’t be contained and the gift was met with thankfulness that I’d not heard the likes of.

“Dad,” I said. “Good for you! I never knew or I’d a gotten you one long ago!”

“Well, we didn’t know it wasn’t supposed to work that way. We just didn’t know.”

The difference between before and after made all the difference. You see, now they had knowledge and with that knowledge, the burden was lifted.

Proverbs 2:10-11 offers insight… “For wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you.”

I’m grateful that He cares deeply about every detail while guiding not only our footsteps but the footsteps of those near to us with wisdom, knowledge, discretion,

and understanding to watch over us.  Amen.