The Washing Machine Was Spinning Out Of Control

 Yesterday our washing machine began to make strange noises, acted differently and seem to be spinning out of control.  The washing machine may be a symbol that sometimes life seems to be spinning out of control. We've had four friends who have died in the past couple of weeks.  Two are part of my wife's extended family whom she grew up with in a small Oklahoma town.  I was the Pastor of the other two for more than 20 years.  All four were my age.  These deaths made me think about my own mortality.  Another friend from the church had a cancer diagnosis that caught all of us be surprise because he seemed to be in excellent health.  He had surgery and is doing well.  I try to take good care of myself and seem to be in good health.  Nevertheless, you never know what may happen.  Life can seem to spin out of control quickly and unexpectedly.  This is a reality check that reminds me again that I'm not in control as much as I think I would like to be in control.  My life really hasn't "spun out of control," even if there are moments that feel that way.  Even if life feels like it has spun out of control, but not out of God's presence.  The lesson seems to be to take care of what needs my attention, even if it isn't what I had planned.