Out of genuine interest, have you ever inquired, “So, how did the event go?” and receive a reply along the lines of “Weellll (southern version)…let me tell you what happened”? In case you have not, it’s usually an indicator that things did not unfold as planned! Ethan’s answer, to my probing about the outcome of the special effects at the basketball game, followed along this trajectory. As soon as his story began to unfold with the fact that they did not have enough electrical outlets in Fred DeLay Gymnasium, I had a gut feeling about where he might be headed. Because without the institutional (or at least facility) knowledge of how the various athletic spaces have been re-designed, altered, and reformed over the years, one could not anticipate that plugging in a smoke machine in the gym might lead to a Tripped Breaker, causing the lights to go out in an office that was once a student lounge, that was once used as some other space, that was once a…

Now, for my Campers on Mission family, a Tripped Breaker is a rather common occurrence. As shared in the post I Didn’t Do It, we are often working in older facilities that were not initially designed for all the electronic gadgets we use today. If perhaps you are still young enough that you haven’t had to determine the source of a Tripped Breaker, just wait, it’s likely to happen. The reason I even mention this concept is because just after Ethan’s experience, I jotted the following: Lord, I might need you to trip a breaker in my life, so I can stop, trace the issues, and decide what needs to be unplugged. What things can’t be powered on at the same time? What needs to be prioritized? I can’t do it all. SAAC, teaching, fan engagement, community service, church, family, friends, athletes, dialogue groups, house and car maintenance, etc. Little did I know that five days later, that breaker would indeed be tripped and that my academic position of 29 years would be eliminated. Lord, I just asked for a Tripped Breaker, I didn’t pray for a total blackout!

As I sit here, seven months later, in a new city, a new state, and a new time zone, I admit to feeling a little bit stunned from the electrical shock. Never in a million years could I have imagined leaving my alma mater, my employer of almost three decades, my home, and everything familiar to embark on a new journey. Tripped Breakers are a nuisance, but you find the issue, replace the food from the freezer, turn the lights back on, and return to the task at hand. You don’t demolish the building and start all over…that’s just for the home improvement, house-flipping shows on television.

However, here I am, navigating the path of address changes, car title and tag replacement, selling a home, finding new places to live, new colleagues, and all the other that moving entails. I sympathize with my friends who’ve lived the military life and had to walk through these issues frequently. I like to be adventurous but that doesn’t typically include all this change at once. I did not choose to be Uprooted, but I did pray for a Tripped Breaker. Guess God’s sense of humor is alive and well as I once again underestimate what He might do with a simple request.

So, I would advise anyone reading this post, be careful what you pray for! I’ve always dreaded the day my prayer card is the one that states, “Lord, increase my faith.” I don’t like that one because it likely means something challenging is coming, but I can guarantee I will not be writing a prayer card that includes anything about a Tripped Breaker! This girl is not up for another one anytime soon. But with heartfelt gratitude, I express my appreciation for the prayers, support, and guidance from many. Understanding Helps is a pale expression of what it means to have people of faith truly know what it means to walk through a dark night of the soul.