Christian Divorce: Ignoring Preventive Maintenance

I was recently reminded of a conversation I had with a former boss regarding marriage. He had sent me to Kansas City, MO, to work on a machine just like the one above; the Opex System 150: a high-speed mail extractor designed for credit card remittance companies to remove contents from an envelope, separate the check from the document, pay, and endorse the check. The video below was added to help give you context of the situation.

The regular technician was out of town on vacation, and I was filling in for an on-site obligation. My boss just happened to be in the area and came in to check on me. I was struggling to keep the machine going. The envelopes, checks, and documents were jamming all over the place. Upon further investigation, I found the following problems:

• At least 75% of the belts were worn out
• Numerous pulleys were visually worn, and idler bearings were catching
• Parts meant for other models of extractors were on this machine
• 90% of the paper guides were completely missing
• Records showed preventive maintenance hadn’t been done in over 2 years

It took all my energy, wit, and know-how to keep the machine going, but it was moot. No matter what I threw at it, I couldn’t keep the machine from jamming. What’s more disturbing is that all the necessary components to make this machine function were stored in boxes on the premises.

• All the guides that were off the machine were stored in a box close by
• A complete Preventive Maintenance (PM) kit was in the cabinet and sealed.
• An extra box of bearings and pulleys were also present in a sealed box
• Service manuals with schematics were also present

An example of when Christians divorce

My boss was not only embarrassed but also visibly angry. Why? Because all the problems could have, and should have, been easily prevented by simple PM. I looked at him and said, “This is a picture of what divorce looks like among Christians.”

He responded, “What do you mean by that?”

“Well,” I said… “ignoring all the obvious signs that had to have taken place. The fighting, the disconnect, the late nights at the office, whatever is one thing; but, having the tools at your fingertips to prevent this from happening such as studying God’s Word together and putting it into practice, praying together and for each other, and getting marriage counseling from your pastor or Christian Counselors, but not using them? How do you fix that? That’s not laziness. That’s a choice!”  

Due to these circumstances, my supervisor made the decision to extend the technician’s vacation—indefinitely. Unbeknownst to me, my supervisor was in the process of a nasty divorce from his wife. Sometimes the LORD opens doors and has us speak life into the lives of those around us, even when we don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes.

For a Christian to regard divorce as the sole solution is to overlook the myriad of support that the Lord provides. Even more troubling is the act of dismissing this assistance with a phrase like, “I know, but…” You can’t fix that. It’s not lazy, it’s a choice made long before the marriage started jamming.

Read the Service Manual and apply the solutions

Most of the time, couples just need to read the Service Manual (the Bible) written by the Manufacturer and apply the solutions that are throughout its pages. This manual is not merely a collection of rules or guidelines; it serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding each other’s needs, strengths, and weaknesses. By taking the time to explore the insights and wisdom contained within, couples may find applicable principles that resonate with their unique situation. Each chapter unlocks valuable strategies for effective communication, conflict resolution, and deepening emotional connections, essentially providing a roadmap towards a more fulfilling partnership. Implementing these solutions can transform the way couples interact, fostering a sense of unity and purpose as they navigate the complexities of their relationship together.

But these principles are not lying about to easily find, but are like gold hidden beneath the earth that have to be mined, refined, and molded into vessels of honor fit for the Master’s use.

What does it say to the world when Christians divorce and choose to end their marriage? Does it give the impression that God could one day negate on His covenant with His children and leave the relationship? That He could get tired of our crap and therefore check out instead of striving with us, refining us into the image of His Son? We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, and therefore not destined to be thrown out into the potter’s field. Let’s read the Service Manual, keep up our PM’s, use the right parts, and care for our machines so they care for us. Because if we love our spouse and our marriage enough, they will love us back.