I believe in the adage “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” I’m an avid squeaky wheel. Sometimes when I let someone else know how I feel or what is needed, I don’t get what I want. Other times I annoy the person I’ve encountered. Occasionally, I have even made things worse. When I’m engaged in this activity, often it causes Karl and others around me a bit of embarrassment. Mostly, I am not deterred though, since the rate of return on my squeaks remains high.
Hurricane Hugo did a lot of damage in 1989 on St. Croix. We weren’t here then, but we have lived with one remnant of Mr. Hugo since we bought our house. Our power pole lists at about a 60-degree angle. It looks as if it is reaching for the sea. Besides looking kinda funny, it often worries Karl that it will fall down, especially since the pole is also very old and cracked.
After Maria, we’d hoped that when the power was restored we’d also get a new, straight pole. This was not to be. The guys were in a hurry and much more focused on getting the electricity back on as opposed to making our pole look good. After 77 days without current, we were anxious as well and thankful for the light, so I didn’t squeak beyond a perfunctory inquiry.
But now. There have been bucket trucks and burly workmen in our area for the past week. They are replacing poles with new, taller specimens, and running new wire. Twice, I mentioned to Karl how maybe we should stop and talk to them and see if they could replace our pole. He scoffed. He patiently explained that most certainly there was a master plan for the poles they are replacing, and that if we went through proper channels and called the power company to request a new pole, maybe they’d oblige us. His answer made sense. I resolved to make the call on Monday morning. But my urge got the better of me yesterday, Sunday, as we were passing (it was a tight passage and our little pickup barely fit between the fence and the bucket truck on the road below our house), and I did some polite squeaking. Karl just grinned and shook his head. Squeaking once again gets results and we’ve been listened to, investigated and approved for a new pole! It isn’t here yet, but we’ve been assured it will be installed within the next few days. Yay!
I’ll happily update this blog with pictures when they come, but in the meantime, I ended the day feeling a little smug.
This morning while I was weeding it occurred to me that my prayer life resembles my physical life. I’m often a squeaky wheel to God. I ponder this, and wonder if I’m praying right or if God doesn’t get annoyed with me asking over and over for forgiveness for the same stupid things I do or for help. Honestly, I don’t think so. I am intentional with my prayer – more so than I have ever been – striving to align my desires more and more with God’s plan for me. There are enough places in the Bible telling us to pray fervently and without ceasing to encourage me in thinking that God is patient with me even when I’m nagging Him. No doubt, there are times he shakes His head at my pettiness or shortsighted requests, and perhaps He even gets annoyed when He’s answered me and I still persist, but I have no doubt that He continues to listen and love me even when I’m shrill and obnoxious. I’m convinced that even if He doesn’t love the noise I make, He loves this squeaky wheel. That’s just one more beautiful thing about the God we serve!
