The "saga" continues! Hope you read the post on "busted hoses"! After the "smaller hose" was fixed, with an assurance that the larger one was "ok" my husband and I, once again, went fishing. Nothing had improved, so back the boat went to Fred, our repairman. He discovered the larger hose needed to be replaced, so that was repaired. Out again we went...more water in the boat. We were just very glad the bilge pump worked.
Oh, I forgot to tell you...prior to starting the motor, my husband noticed LOTS of water was coming in the back of the boat.Fred did not put the plug back in. LOTS of water comes in without a plug and I needed to nearly swim to get the plug in!! Thank God for a good bilge pump. However, problems continued.
Again, we took the boat back to Fred. Having had a keel guard on, and two hoses repaired, this time he wondered if it wasn't the rivets. I told Fred that we were just scared he would not want to talk to us again, bringing the boat back so many times and not being able to find the real problem. He assured me he would be able to fix the rivets, assuming that was now the problem. Who am I to question what might be wrong with a boat but I gently asked if one of the hoses could have come loose.
Well, a phone call from Fred the next day to pick up the boat...ONE OF THE HOSES HAD COME LOOSE!!! A friend, upon hearing this saga, asked if it wasn't a hassle to keep hauling the boat back and forth to the repairman...I simply said the biggest headache was wondering if the boat could be fixed, being that it is over 25 yrs. old.
How many times in our own lives do things happen, one thing after another, that situations keep occurring and it feels like a merry-go-round that we just can't get off. Many of us have our own stories. Who and what resources do we each have that helps us keep our heads above water, to help keep going, to not throw in the towel? What helps us when our own spirit is challenged beyond belief? Some have very healthy "repairmen" who assure us they are there for us (God, prayer, spiritual director, meditation practices, etc.). Some are not so helpful (substances, irresponsible behavior, hopelessness, suicide, etc. ). Of course, I needed a neighbor to point Fred out to us. We're certainly glad he did. Now, we are not alone with a sinking boat!!
Molly LaFond is a Certified Spiritual Director with offices in Two Rivers and Crivitz, WI. For an appointment, call 920 793-3530 or see her webpage at: mollylafond.com
