On Hold!

By Jim Hammond

               I’m writing this as I’m on “hold” waiting to talk to the “next available representative.”   I’ve been here before, have you?  Usually I’m frustrated as I wait for a sales representative for a Return Authorization on a defective part of a computer.  Today, well, the wait is worse.  I’m waiting for an IRS representative to get to the bottom of a notice I received stating that they changed my 1998 return.  They changed it in such a way that they say I owe $815.66 MORE!  This just wasn’t the greatest of greetings having just returned from relaxing week of vacation, which usually stretches the budget past the comfort zone anyway!

               Aren’t you glad you aren’t on hold right now?!  I’m sure glad for the scriptures I reviewed this morning that really did help me to keep this before the Lord or I might be steaming more than I am even now.  Hmmm, now how did that memory verse go again,  “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, WITH THANKSGIVING, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)  The “with thanksgiving” part is the part I’m struggling with.  I’m wondering what to be thankful for?  Let’s see.  Well, I can be thankful that we had a wonderful family vacation.  I can be thankful that even though Karissa had a fever from the Wednesday through Sunday before we left for vacation, that we finally did find the medication she needed to get rid of what turned out to be a wicked sinus infection.  I’m thankful that though we left a day late, that the turn of events turned the events perhaps for the better.  I’m thankful for a church family that prayed for our family making these “thanksgivings” possible.  Hey, I’m feeling better already, even while on hold.  I can be thankful that even while backpacking in the rain with my family, and having to turn around and come back down Mount Baldy because of the up close and too personal thunderstorm (monsoons aren’t supposed to hit in June!) that everyone was safe and enjoyed it anyway!  I’m thankful that even though I started getting a dreadful soar throat the day after vacation began that I happened to have with me a natural and mild antibiotic I was going to use to cook with the fish I was going to catch and eat—GARLIC!  You are probably thankful you weren’t there.  I ate whole cloves raw.  I’m thankful we were in the wilderness!  Call it what you want, your prayers and mine, and garlic.  My sore throat got better.  Let’s see, what else can I be thankful for?   I can be thankful that even if I do owe $815.66 more that I’ve got a good job and I can get that paid.  I’m thankful that there are so many good leaders at VVCC that I can take a vacation and not worry about a thing.  I have already heard some wonderful reports about the effective ministry of our church while being gone. 

               Hold on a second I’m getting a real person  [isn’t that funny, now you have to hold while I talk on the other line].

I’m back.  Aren’t you thankful you didn’t have to wait as long as I did?  But NOW I’M REALLY THANKFUL.  A nice lady named “Martel” was “the next available representative” and she helped me out.  It turns out that I put down a Social Security number that was just one digit off of Luke’s real social security number, I put a 9 instead of a 4.  So they didn’t allow the dependent exemptions I claimed.  The funny thing is, I’ve been doing that same one digit error without knowing it every year since 1992.  That’s what you get when you have sloppy handwriting.  I guess you might have a similar effect happen with sloppy living.  The one little mistake is perpetuated over and over and you don’t even know it. 

Have you ever discovered such a minute and costly error?  Have you ever discovered it while “ON HOLD?”  Maybe having to stop and to be put on hold isn’t always as awful as it feels.  God is at work while we are on hold.   What was that verse.  (Psalms 46:10 NIV)  "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."  I find it difficult to wait especially when something feels so urgent!

Hey, I have another bonus to thank God for!  I’ve just written a newsletter article while on hold!  I hope that maybe this article helps you the next time you find yourself ON HOLD!