November 27, 2011 ~ As I was getting up and getting ready for the day this morning I had this string of thoughts cross my mind.

Each and every profession or line of work has a set of tools to use to perform the job they are doing.

There are specific tools that a doctor uses, that an engineer uses, and the same goes for plumbers, electricians, carpenters, mechanics, musicians, chefs, farmers, fishermen, ranchers, teachers, parents, housewives, and law enforcement, to name a few. They each have their *toolbox* with the *tools* they need to do their job and do it correctly.

It would be difficult for an electrician to do his job if he was carrying the toolbox of a fisherman as it would be hard for a chef to prepare and serve a meal if his tool box was that of a policeman. And, even with the correct tools they can still make errors in their work if they fail to pay attention to details.

Many of us spend our lives trying to do jobs for which we do not have the TOOLS to do the job. Granted there are things we can substitute like using a butter knife as a screwdriver or a chair as a ladder, but that isn’t what those items were designed to do for the long haul.

Decision making is one of those *jobs* in life that few seem to be *tooled up* for. Thinking AHEAD in order to be ready for whatever comes along seems to be a lost art. Like taking a road trip in a car to a place you have never been before on roads you haven’t traveled. I realize in todays world there is this GPS thing in most new cars but I have ridden in a couple when that device makes ERRORS. When that happens and you are relying upon that device rather than your own instincts and intellect – what do you do? Remain LOST?

Life is a trip – you have a starting point and a destination. What destination have you chosen and what have you packed to make the trip with? Are you wearing a bikini to go to the North Pole in the winter?

I am not sure at what point in my life I became fascinated with maps and make-believe trips. Back in the early 50’s the Shell stations had little post cards you could fill out and send in to Shell. You would write out where you wanted to travel to and from where and they would then send you the MAPS you would need for the trip. Sort of like the modern day AAA trip packages. When I discovered that I made BIG use of it. I traveled all over the USA and I learned how to read maps and take little off road trips to see what was there. I was taking a trip and planning for what to do and which turn-offs or detours to make. I still do that to this day. PLAN AHEAD – CHECK THE ROUTE – be PREPARED so that no matter what comes up I am not at a loss as to what to do next. When I get to a fork in the road I have already made that decision many miles (or years) back I packed my TOOLS for the trip. And, yes, I have made several wrong turns along the way but I still had the TOOLS to get back on track.

That is how life is – If you are taking a trip – fixing a plugged pipe or sewer line – fixing a short in the wiring – or fixing a flat tire… you need to have certain tools with you in order to do the job that needs to be done. I know many in life simply do not understand that part of being PREPARED ahead of time. So many I know are just walking along and when something happens they think they can call on government (911) to fix it. They fail to take into consideration the COST of that reliance and the poor quality of service they get from government. When a robber or rapist approaches you in the dark do you think calling 911 is going to prevent your being raped or even killed? You need to be PREPARED to defend your self because there is no other earthly help close enough to save you.

That is how I view the Spiritual life. It is up to ME to PREPARE myself for whatever I encounter. In order to do that I have to STUDY and make those lessons a part of my daily make-up. I don’t have to walk around carrying a gun or wearing a black belt to impress others with my ability to be strong and fight off an aggressor. I have this weapon that few humans see and it is called MUSTARD SEED FAITH. That is a big part of my TOOL BOX. I have taken that tool and used it, over and over and over in my life – I am PRACTISED in the use of it – I do not have to pull out the Owners manual each time I need to use it – it is a part of my breathing air.

I see the political battles taking place from the viewpoint of Spiritual WAR – it is the enemy, Satan, trying to take my very Soul to prevent my spending eternity with Christ. I could **compromise** my stand and prevent being beaten up by the enemy but that would jeopardize my ETERNAL LIFE and I long ago made that DECISION of what to do when I came to a fork in the road. Do I fight (Tell that tree to be removed from me) (RESIST THE DEVIL) or do I COMPROMISE and thus lose my eternal life but find temporary safety?

My mother used to call my Daddy a Jack of All Trades and master of none. I always thought that was funny because his name was Jack. I learned a lot from my parents – lessons I doubt they had any idea they were giving to me. I learned to be READY for anything at any time and to be prepared for instant decision making. Sometimes your decision may be wrong but that comes from experience and the next time you are faced with a similar situation you WILL be prepared, providing you paid attention to the lesson along the way.

So, the point of all this is to shine a light on how you PREPARE – how you make Decisions – Who it is you depend upon in life – Do you keep making the same mistakes over and over or do you LEARN from those you make and then CHANGE the way you decide things – like how you vote and why you vote for a certain person, party, issue. Have your past votes made this a better place or not? Do you keep tripping over the same stumbling blocks or do you change the path you are walking on?

What do you have in your TOOL BOX? What kind of PRACTISING do you do each day so that you are READY when the time comes? Do you stand STRONG or do you COMPROMISE…. thus giving your enemy what was yours? Ephesians 6:13 Therefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

What I have written here applies to all facets of life – the one here on this earth and to the eternal life. It is a DECISION only YOU can make – no one can make it for you and you can’t make it for anyone else.

So, make sure your TOOL BOX is equipped with the correct tools to do the job you are here to do and that you have a good map to guide you on your travels.

~ The Author ~
Jackie Juntti (Granny) was a daily reader and frequent contributor to Kettle Moraine Publications.