Reinventing the Wheel

My mom accused me often of "reinventing the wheel." I would solve problems, move on, and then forgetting I had solved them, would encounter them again, and re-solve them. There are advantages to this. (It is always good to find the positive in strange or dismaying behavior.) I am never bored. Never. Every moment is like one I have never seen before.

While working on my latest book, I found (again) a document that was crucial to solving one of the mysteries that I was certain I had accurately solved. Looking at the document now, however, I began to ask the same questions I had asked a year ago. I revisited many internet sites I had scoured for months, and I began to formulate new theories...except they were actually the same old theories I had formulated, and rejected months ago. (Please tell me someone else out there does this.)

I spent the entire day "reinventing the wheel." Meanwhile, my sweet dog lay on the couch near me, watching me. Occasionally she was awake, but most of the time she was asleep. I found myself not infrequently wishing I was a dog. Her only concern was that I would not become so busy that I would forget to feed her. And if I did, like I did yesterday, she would remind me. Loudly.

This is why I must read the Bible daily. I forget everything...all the time. I need constant and frequent reminders of what matters and why it matters, and how I discovered that it matters. The nice part of rereading the Bible, is every time I do, it is like the first time, and every time, I am struck (again) by how marvelous a plan God's plan is, and how much simpler it would be if I could just manage to stick to it. My dog, sleeping on the couch, raises one heavy eyelid and watches me as I ponder the imponderables I pondered just yesterday.

Fortunately, God also "forgets" what has gone before. When we put our faith in Jesus and the atoning sacrifice He made in our stead, all that went before is wiped clean. Again and again, we disobey, and again and again, God forgives, as though erased from His memory. He is not reinventing the wheel. He is reinventing ME...in His image.

Deuteronomy 30:7-9

New International Version (NIV)

7 The Lord your God will put all these curses on your enemies who hate and persecute you.8 You will again obey the Lord and follow all his commands I am giving you today. 9 Then the Lord your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The Lord will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your ancestors,

Acts 10:42-44

New International Version (NIV)

42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.