Problems are meant to be solved

“You don’t drown by falling in the water; you drown by staying there.”  Edwin Louis Cole

  “I can’t.” It can’t be done.” It’s impossible.” “There is no way.” “No one can do it.” “I’m dropping out.” “I’m filing for divorce.” It’s overwhelming.” “I’m walking out.” “I quit.” Over the course of the last week, you’ve probably heard or perhaps even said one of those phrases.  

  Life is a process: a complex ever-continuing, ever changing set of problems and difficulties. The choice is not – will you accept problems?  Problems are inevitable. The vital question is HOW will you face problems? Problems are a part of life. Even without the Fall and sin’s contamination, there would still be problems. God created us to “subdue” the earth (Genesis 1:28). He gifted us with intelligence and creativity so that even in that perfect, yet not fully developed world, we would problem-solve. The very first problem God gave Adam was a major one – one that most of us even today with all of our combined knowledge and tools of technology would be very intimidated by – what to name all of the animals? (Genesis 2:19).

  With as many problems as we’re all faced with, it seems as if there’s never enough time to solve each one without dealing with some adversity along the way. Life is so complex. Problems keep coming at us so fast that we find ourselves wanting to just quit often before we even start.

  Too many, when faced with a problem, are paralyzed. For some it’s ignorance, for others it’s laziness, yet we live in a world where far too many fail to use their God-given creativity and abilities. Part, too, is that of doting parents not wanting their children to suffer or be uncomfortable in any way, and fix everything for them. If a child starts a sport or playing a musical instrument that they want to play, yet then decides that practicing is too difficult or too much work, parents let them quit. Perseverance is a key ingredient when it comes to problem-solving. Then, we are too quick to ask for help, whether it’s Google or someone in authority, instead of putting out some effort to figure it out for ourselves.

  The results of lacking problem-solving skills are disastrous. It’s why teens drop out of school. It’s why adults quit jobs or bail on marriage. It’s why people leave churches. It’s that core problem of a lack of problem-solving skills. It’s easier to not try or just quit, but it’s very costly.

  This came home to me when I encountered a new problem I’d never previously faced. One of the wonderful responsibilities of a pastor is to meet with people and pray with them prior to their having surgery. Let’s face it. Most of us are a bit nervous if we’re facing surgery, even if the doctor says “it’s routine.” It may be her routine, but it’s not mine. Having someone anesthetize us or start cutting into parts of our bodies is not routine. Add to that “every surgery is minor surgery until it’s MY surgery.”

  This surgery was scheduled in the morning. The family knew I was coming. I arrived as I normally do about half an hour after the patient was instructed to be there. With changes in schedules, surgeries often happen very quickly and ahead of schedule. It was a small hospital so I didn’t anticipate any issues. I went to the reception desk and was told to wait, they’d let me know when I could go back to see the patient. Now that’s not routine for a pastor. Prep for surgery is fairly standard. The patient dons a hospital gown and lays in bed, as medical staff come in to ask the same questions the patient has been asked seemingly a hundred times before. If a certain appendage is being operated on, they mark it. Sometimes they’ll start an IV or draw blood. None of it is a big deal, particularly for a pastor.

  So I sat for fifteen minutes. I wish I could say patiently, but I wasn’t. I tried to text the family, yet couldn’t get through to them. I asked the receptionist what the status was…my impatience was beginning to show. She said that she’d let me know. She didn’t. I was concerned they’d take the patient in for surgery before I was able to pray with them, so I finally convinced her it would be good to check again. She did and I went back.

  For a pastor, this just doesn’t happen, particularly since the patient wants you there. I was not a happy camper. As this is not a hospital I often deal with and because I was so shocked, I called a friend who pastors in the area. He informed me that this particular hospital always makes pastors wait. On top of that, they have a poor reputation for communicating with pastors. Several times they’ve forgotten him as he’s waiting to see a patient and he has to remind them. It’s not a good situation.

  Like most pastors, I love to be there to pray with folk. Oftentimes, I find that they or their family are anxious. Pastoral care is a wanted and needed blessing. Most hospitals are begging for local pastors to assist with pastoral care and to be volunteer chaplains. They can hardly keep up medically and are thankful for assistance with the spiritual and emotional side.

  Since I’d seen the patient and I’d never been at this hospital for a pastoral call previously, there was high probability I’d never have to return. So I had a decision to make: Do I just blow it off or do I attempt to improve the situation for other pastors and patients? In other words, do I seek to problem-solve? To be honest, it’d have been easier to have just let it go, but I believed that would be wrong. So I called the pastoral care department at their main hospital.

  This is where you know that God was intervening. They had a new chaplain…who just happened to be an old friend of mine. We’d worked together in the past at another ministry. My friend was having major difficulties making some needed changes. This particular hospital had been problematic when it came to pastoral care. Not only was my friend very thankful for my call but asked me to consider being a chaplain at this hospital (It’s a bit of a drive and there are many other pastors that are much closer, but I’m now on the emergency call list.) Because I’m familiar with the area, I helped make some contacts to begin a chaplain program at the very hospital I’d just had so much difficulty with.

  It’s easy to get irritated and impatient (which I was wrong for doing) and complain. It takes creativity and wisdom to problem solve. Too often, even in the Church, we’re venters when God wants to use us as problem-solvers. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a spiritual matter. While we don’t want to be busybodies, many of us throw in the towel far too soon when we could make a valuable investment in the world God has called us to minister in.  

  Are you a problem-solver or just a problem pointer outer? God blessed us with intelligence, skills and creativity so that we can be part of the solution and use the abilities He’s endowed us with to better His world. A great resource from a Christian perspective that I found very helpful was Eating Problems for Breakfast: A Simple, Creative Christian Approach to Solving Any by Tim Hansel. 

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Some of the wealthiest, healthiest resolutions you'll ever make...

“Resolutions are popular because everyone feels they could use a little improvement.” Marilu Henner

  Okay, I’ll admit it – I’m a dog person. If you’re a cat person, I’ll pray for you J. Since it’s that time of year when everyone is making behavior modifications, I thought that our big chocolate lab, Ernie could use a little behavior modification. So I’m going to suggest to him that in 2015…

  * He stop trying to find the few remaining clean pieces of carpet in the house when he’s about to throw up.

  * He won’t lick family members faces after eating animal elimination or his own regurgitation. (Door-to-door salesman are of course, open season).

  * He won’t chew pens or markers, especially red or pink ones.

  * When in the car, he won’t insist on having the window rolled down when it’s raining.

  * He’ll remember that the sofa isn’t a face towel. Neither are family members’ pants legs.

  * That his head doesn’t belong in the frig or his nose on the counter, and that he’ll stop staring at anyone eating like he’s a starving 3^rd world child.

  * And that he not shake the rain out of his fur after coming back inside.

  It’s that time of year. Have you made some New Year’s resolutions? You’ve probably made some health and financially related ones. Can I suggest some resolutions you might not have considered? There not in any particular order, just something to think about.

  To spend more time in actual conversations rather than on social media. Want extra money? Put $1.00 in a jar every time you’re out for a meal and see people sharing a meal with someone but they’re on their phone. Put $5.00 in a jar for your spouse if you’re the one doing it. I know sometimes there are emergencies, but most of the time that’s not the case. We don’t always need to be connected. If you’re in the car with someone, talk to them, not on your phone to someone miles away.

  To spend more time having significant conversations. Sometimes days can go by with the conversations we have with our friends, family members and co-workers going no deeper than surface-level chit-chat. Though there’s nothing wrong with joking around, theorizing about the latest episode of your favorite TV series, or even strategizing about the Packers. But if we’re not intentional about regularly engaging in deeper conversations—that challenge us spiritually, intellectually and socially—too often, those types of talks become rare or non-existent.soci

  To do more and complain less. Ours is a complaining culture. There’s seemingly always something wrong. We need to ask ourselves, “what good will this do other than raise my blood pressure?” Complaining may give some momentary relief from frustrations, but working on solutions to the problems in our world can actually take steps forward in fixing things that are broken. While we may not be able to “fix” it, often we can take proactive steps that we have control over. And we can always pray!

  To spend more time thanking and less worrying. Every moment spent worrying is wasted, not to mention, it’s counterproductive. Francis Chan said, “Worry implies that we don’t quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of the what’s happening in our lives.” We worry about that which we have no control over but we rarely thank God (or others) for our many blessings. Maybe it would help to keep a diary or log of your daily blessings.

  To spend time getting to know God better. Be honest, when we feel rushed, what’s the first thing we cut back on – our spiritual life. We skip reading our Bibles, our prayer life becomes little more than a quick verbal text, we skip church and can’t ever find the time to be in a small group. If we wait until we have time, it won’t ever happen. Spending time with the Lord, like spending time with a close friend has to be intentional and scheduled. J. Oswald Sanders wisely observed, “It is impossible for a believer, no matter what his experience, to keep right with God if he will not take the trouble to spend time with God. Spend plenty of time with Him; let other things go, but don't neglect Him.”  

  To try something new every week, if not every day. When is the last time you tried out a different ethnic food. With the Internet recipes from around the world at right at your fingertips. Break out of your routine. Do something different and new. Listen to new music. With Spotify and Pandora, keeping up with new music releases and styles has never been easier. If you read fiction, read a biography. If you read serious books, switch to fiction. If you’re always watching TV or surfing the Net, turn it off and pick up a book. Even switch where you sit in your family room or at the dinner table. Try a different version of the Bible. If you watch one news channel, watch one from the opposite spectrum.

  Cut yourself and others some slack. Most of us are wound too tight and far too stressed. If it won’t matter next week, it probably doesn’t matter today. In this social media era, where everyone’s opinion gets a platform, it’s easy to fall into the trap of getting angry at our friends over things they say that we don’t agree with. Outrage is way overrated. Commit to being offended less and reserving your anger for issues that really matter.

  And when you make a mistake or even sin, remember, it’s ALL died for. If you’re good at beating yourself up, please make sure that you also affirm yourself and tell yourself what you’re enjoying. Thank God for His grace! For some reason, dark and negative self-talk is acceptable but self-affirmation, gratitude and enjoyment is psycho babble. It’s not and we need more of it. It may result in us not looking like we suck on lemons. God doesn’t expect perfection from us and we’re silly to expect it of ourselves.

  To challenge my own opinions and presuppositions more often. These are polarized days. Being able to take a stand for what you believe is admirable, but so is listening to the other side and putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. Even if we don’t change our position, questioning our own long-held presuppositions doesn’t just challenge our beliefs—it can actually strengthen them.

  To spend more time with people you care about. While it’s often more convenient to go to the drive-thru, eat lunch at your desk or use dinnertime to catch up on Netflix, it’s not good for us. There’s nothing wrong with doing this occasionally, but when eating on the run becomes a lifestyle, we end up depriving ourselves and others in our life of moments that could be used to build deeper relationships. At the very least schedule to meet a friend for coffee or lunch. If you don’t schedule it, it’s not going to happen.

  God has given us everything we need to enjoy life (1 Timothy 6:17). So are you? If not, why not? Maybe it’s time for some significant change.