Good to Go
When we came back from the States in June, both of our Samsonite cases had taken a bit of a beating.
Between them, we had damaged wheels and one telescopic handle that had decided it was no longer interested in telescoping.
With another trip to the USA approaching, we brought the cases down from the loft.
We have one other large suitcase, but both Samsonites were damaged. So, the question was simple: buy another new case, or try to make one of these work?
We chose the least damaged one.
Now, I should add that I am not a handyman at all!
Nevertheless, I decided I would investigate the broken handle. With a little help from ChatGPT, screws started coming out. Linings were pulled back and the complete telescopic handle assembly eventually emerged from the suitcase.
For someone like me, this felt roughly equivalent to rebuilding an aircraft engine.
Sadly, the handle still wasn’t working.
Then I started looking at replacement parts: a new handle assembly, new wheels, delivery costs…
Monic looked at the two damaged suitcases and offered the kind of simple observation that makes you wonder why you have spent the previous hour dismantling half the house.
“Why don’t you just take the good wheels off that one and put them on this one?”
Ah… Of course…! A few screws later: hey presto!
One fully functioning Samsonite. No new suitcase. No replacement wheels. Money saved.
And we’re good to go.
Sunday Morning Reflection
It left me thinking about how often our first thought is to replace something when perhaps what is really needed is to repair, reuse or look again at what we already have.
In the Old Testament, when a widow faced a desperate situation, Elisha asked her a simple question: “What hast thou in the house?” – 2 Kings 4:2
The answer seemed insignificant, a small amount of oil. Yet it became the beginning of the miracle.
I know that Jesus Christ works that way too.
The scriptures are filled with ordinary people offering what they already possessed: a few loaves and fishes, a widow’s small amount of oil, simple stones, willing hands. Heaven has a remarkable way of taking what appears insufficient and making it enough.
Perhaps discipleship is sometimes less about finding something new and more about recognising what our Heavenly Father has already placed within reach.
A gift, a friendship, an experience, a talent we haven’t used for a while, or occasionally, two perfectly good wheels sitting on a broken suitcase in the loft.
Sometimes the answer is closer than we think, we just need someone to help us see it.
What is already “in the house” that might be enough?
