I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

From the internet: During a private "fly-in" fishing excursion in the Alaskan wilderness, the chartered pilot and fishermen left a cooler and bait in the plane. And a bear smelled it. This is what he did to the plane....

The pilot used his radio and had another pilot bring him 2 new tires, 3 cases of duct tape, and a supply of sheet plastic. He patched the plane together, and FLEW IT HOME!!!

Never underestimate the power of duct tape!

I recently read the above story about how duct tape seemed to "come to the rescue" and started thinking about the power of duct tape.Yes, really! Remember how MacGyver, a master of improvised inventions, made frequent use of duct tape to get himself out of many a dangerous dilemmas? How about when Frasier's Martin Crane covered rips in the fabric of his beloved, but old and ugly armchair with pieces of duct tape? Duct tape is commonly known as the handyman's secret weapon. How many broken automobile side mirrors have you seen duct taped on, waiting a permanent replacement? Until a recent visit by the treadmill repairman to our house, my husband had duct taped the cracked plastic housing of the treadmill together, in order to keep it working. The repairman made the comment that my husband must really love that treadmill to "hold it together with duct tape!" I could go on forever about the super powers of duct tape, but I'll get to the point...

What is the "duct tape" that holds you together when things seem to be falling apart in your life? What keeps you going when life hits those bumpy patches that most certainly will come along? I posed that question to several people...For my husband, ironically, it's exercise! If he doesn't get his work out fix daily, he's grumpy and edgy. It allows him to "sweat out" all his frustrations with work, world issues and most likely family! A friend told me that her duct tape is most definitely the unwavering support of friends and family who are always right there by her side, whether sharing joys or sadness. Someone else shared that when things get especially tense or rough in her life, she steps up her volunteer time. She said that helping others holds her together, helping her realize her problems might not be so bad after all. Yet another couple told me that their love of cooking holds them together. This is more likely them being others' duct tape, as they love to take friends and neighbors a warm meal when they are struggling, or just as a nice surprise. What about the people of Haiti? Here they are singing in the streets and praising God, despite what they've been through! Their duct tape is surely their undying faith in God and a hope beyond our Western understanding. 

What is your duct tape? Are you the duct tape for someone else? 

Dear Gracious and Loving God, May we look to you as our ultimate duct tape! May we realize that in you our weaknesses are strengthened. And when the stormy seasons of our lives arrive, you help us hold it together. Thank you for all the other types of duct tape that also hold us together. Help us not to forget that being all "taped together" we're blessing others, and being blessed in return.

Andrea Heshmati