We normally don’t see Porta-Johns planted so close to an intersection, so I just had to get a picture of this one.
Somebody, perhaps from a construction company, placed this Porta-John on the corner of 24th Avenue and D-Street on North Fort, Joint Base Lewis McChord. Oh, there’s been many times while I’ve been out running that I’ve wished for one of these! What a picture of accessibility and availability! To have a Porta-John right were you need it at just the right time!
Yes, I’m being facetious. But having something or someone accessible and available when you need them is no joke. One of my biggest gripes—normally under my breath—is that something or someone is never around when I need him, her, or it. I pray that such is not the complaint of others against me—that I’m never around when needed. But I guess, it can’t always be helped. We don’t seem to live in a world in which our needs are in harmonious synchronization with the supply. It seems we’re continually having to improvise or do without.
There is, of course, one glorious exception. God is always there for us—with just the right help and just the right words. In Psalm 46:1 we read, “God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in time of trouble.” “A very present help” in the original Hebrew means “greatly to be found.” Even things that are close to us can be overlooked. But God helps us find Him in an emergency. He wants to be the first responder in our every emergency, but we usually treat Him as the last resort.
If you’re in trouble, please reach out to the God Who’s reaching out to you. As any loving parent yearns for nothing more than for their child to run into their arms, God yearns for nothing more than for us to flee into His loving embrace. God is a very present help in time of trouble. Open your heart to Him.
PRAYER:
Dear Father in heaven, please soften my hardened heart and help me to open up to you. Breathe life into my weary heart and heal me. Train me, O God, to call out to You as my first impulse, rather than as my last resort. Amen.
In article photo: Marines help keep children healthy by U.S. Marines licensed under U.S. Gov Works
