By: Jack Kale, Pastor Central Pensacola Beach
They don’t build ‘em like they used to. Our washing machine began to shake so bad it would register on the Richter scale. I had already replaced the suspension rods and made sure it was balanced. I was out of patience with it and ready to buy a new one. Then I went to price the cost of a new one. Wow. So I called Patriot Appliance Repair. They were there within the day and are coming tomorrow to replace some parts that I wasn’t willing to do. It’s more than I wanted to spend, but less than the cost of a new one. Last year, I had to put a new motor in my truck. That set me back over $14,000, but still that was cheaper than another truck. Seems like I’m choosing to repair more than replace.
Some things in life are disposable. Paper plates, plastic utensils, foil pans, Kleenex, coffee filters, and Ziplock bags are just a few that come to mind. We get our coffees in throwaway paper cups, and rarely do we use cloth napkins. In our desire for convenience, we have made disposability a way of life.
It seems like companies are building their products with planned obsolescence. Why is it that my mother-in-law’s 40 year old avocado green carport refrigerator is still running? So are her washing machine and dryer. The rollers, seals, springs, belts, gears, and other parts are made more cheaply and weakly today. I know someone could make a washing machine, dishwasher, or dryer with heavy-duty parts that could be easily worked on, but then where would the return business be? Is there even such a thing as a television repairman anymore? I bet not. Chunk it and get a new one seems to be the current state of affairs.
The replacement preference has an appeal, too. It’s newer, sleeker, and has updated features. Early adopters and folks who care about being current will most likely choose the new thing over the repaired thing. I get it. Still, there is something nostalgic and beautiful about seeing an old tractor that a farmer has kept going all these years or that chest of drawers your grandparents used. Antiques aren’t just beautiful because they are old; they are wonderful because they were valued enough to have been used and repaired.
It’s not just things that need repairing or replacement. It seems like some marriages are beyond repair and a do-over is what’s on the agenda. Others have found that the hard work of repair has made the marital life even better than ever. Occupations, mindsets, values, dreams, and goals can either be repaired or replaced. Making the decision of which way to go can be almost as difficult as the problems we are having with them.
Faith requires us to make some repair decisions. King David recognized his moral failings and turned to God. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). For him, it was both a replacement and repair job. The disciples James and John were repairing their nets when Jesus found and called them to replace fish with people. In some cases, we are called to abandon a broken past for a new future. In others, we are encouraged to invest in the hard work of repair, reconciliation, and restoration. It’s often a “both/and” instead of an “either/or.”
My guess is that something in your life needs some work. I invite you to consider the replacement or repair option. Pray about it. Invest in improving your relationships, even if it costs more than you are planning. Repair what’s broken if possible and replace it if necessary. Keep moving ahead and keep trying to make your corner of the world a little better today than it was yesterday. When your life starts shaking because it’s out of balance, find a faithful fixer who can get you repaired and replaced.