A Bad Day – A Very Bad Day

One of the books I read to my son, and I love on a personal level is Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Judith Violrst goes through a young Alexander’s very bad day and he wanted to move, move all the way to Australia. 

And in the end, his mother gave some sound words of wisdom … Some days are like that, even in Australia.

So, in 24 hours, I was plagued by a 20×40 foot pole tent. It needed to be picked up from the vendor. My friend was extremely busy, so he offered to switch vehicles and I would take his brand new Ford F150 and trailer, and he would use my Subaru.

Warning: I hate borrowing and driving someone else’s vehicle. 

PART 1 of the Very Bad Day … I arrived at the vendor. They loaded the tent, poles, ropes, and pegs into the trailer (unfortunately, they loaded everything behind the axle … yes, all the weight was behind the axle). 

Within a quarter of a mile from the parking lot, traveling very slow, driving through the roundabout on Lakeside, I felt a change in the truck’s handling. The trailer came loose from the hitch. The trailer came loose from the hitch. No pin? Bad roads? Weight behind the axel?

I slowly stopped and felt/heard the trailer came to a stop under the truck. A good Samaritan stopped and helped. We got the trailer back on, made a temporary pin with a carabiner, tied it secure with a rope … and eased on downtime road – with blinkers and praying for no police officer to pull me over (the electric plug cables snapped.)

Part 2 of the Very Bad Day… Next morning, still in the 24 hour span, we gathered to raise the our newest tent.  Laid it out, measured to miss all buried wires and water pipes, and began. Did you know that water pipes don’t always follow a straight line? They sometimes go a bit then turn with an L-Joint. And on my Very Bad Day … if the pipe was going to be hit, I would hit it. Soooo … I hit it. A few hours later, the water system was back to normal (thanks to my hero … Matt G), the tent was up, and the picnic tables were in place.

Trailer comes off while driving …
Scratched the bumper of a brand new truck …
       Water main punctured while putting tent up …
           A Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day!

This is not unique to me, lots of people have bad days. This is not new, people have had bad days for a long time. 

• Romans citizens loosing homes when Rome burned
• British kicked out of America in 1776
• Russians during USA win in Miracle on Ice in 1980
• Apollo 11
• Jack Bauer in six seasons on TV
• Abel argued with a Cain – bad day
• Noah’s associates caught outside the Ark on the rain day
• Joseph betrayed by brothers
• Daniel in a lion’s den
• Saul/Paul blinded on road to Damascus

I wouldn’t want anyone to have a bad day – but they do. I wouldn’t want a trailer come off on anyone – but it does.  I wouldn’t want anyone to puncture a water main – but if they do, I hope they have their own Matt.

Most of all … I claim James … I count it all joy when I encounter trials and tribulation. 

Like Genesis 50:20 … this world may mean it for evil, but God means it for good.

So, trust God and don’t freak out. 

Like mom’s wisdom to Alexander – some days are like this. Go to sleep and realize his mercies are new every morning.