Lessons in hard things - Rector's Rambling for Sunday, June 14, 2015

The past two weeks I have been spending time getting an education in a subject I would have rather not.

On Sunday, May 31, we had storm water back up our basement drains, and within a few minutes we were ankle deep.  We raced around the basement as the water was coming in, moving things upstairs (or at least up high), and felt otherwise helpless as the basement filled.

The education began a few hours later when the plumber showed up to try to snake our drain (his snake only went 100 feet and we discovered it was 140 to the city storm so he had to come back).  We learned how to use a pump to empty the basement, which then had to be turned on and off through the night as water receded and then rose again until 3:00 AM.

Then the education was ramped up as we had an emergency restoration company come in to remove the rugs in the play area, dry it out with dehumidifiers and fans, and then sanitize everything that was touched by water.

Our final exam, however, seems to be convincing the insurance company, through the adjustor, to pay for what was damaged such as furniture and the paneling on the wall.  The adjustor and emergency service manager, as well as yours truly, had a 2+ hour heart to heart combined with photos and measuring.  As of this writing we are waiting for the results.

Three highlights in all this?  One is that when we read about flooding in neighbor’s basements the last two years, we bought an insurance rider to cover this damage (it is not standard coverage).  Second, we had put many things in the basement up on shelves and in plastic bins just in case this might happen.  It helped to be prepared.  But the third highlight is that the adjustor, here from Wisconsin, was a devout Christian, and he and I spent and additional 45 minutes witnessing and praying for and with each other.

The flood was a bad thing.  But I met a fellow faithful member of the Body of Christ, was encouraged in hearing his story of conversion and new life in Christ, and for that I am grateful.