Murphy’s Law

 

1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

 

Murphy's Law is an adage or epigram that is typically stated as: "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong." The law itself was coined by, and is named after, American aerospace engineer Edward A. Murphy Jr.; an United States Air Force (USAF) captain and aeronautical engineer. Its exact origins are debated, but it is generally agreed it originated from Murphy and his team following a mishap during rocket sled tests some time between 1948 and 1949. People have been using the term for misfortunes people experience. 

 

I have been facing many frustrating challenges under time pressures as multiple water leaks in the pumping pipes and fixtures the last few days. I know that many people undergo similar encounters in their daily lives, just in different issues and circumstances. This one of mine was easy fixes for the first two water leaks in the drain pipes of the tub/shower just tightening couplings, the drain pipe to the bathroom sink cleared by running a sewer snake through the line. The water leaks at the tub overflow was solved by replacing the rubber gasket, and the leak at the water spicket was saved by replacing it with a new one. You are probably says, “Are there really that many issues in one bathroom? I am asking that myself. 

 

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

 

But, that is not the end of the troubles. Water started shooting out of the tub/shower’s water nozzle, which control hot and cold temperatures when turned on. Then, Murphy’s Law kicked in and the water began to leak continuously backwards out of the nozzle and into the wall. We had to turn off the water to the entire house and drive to the local hardware store to buy replacement parts. The new facet mechanism was not compatible, so we worked on cutting the cold water feeder pipe and installing a shutoff valve. That worked great, but when we turned the water back on, the facet valve continued to leak. So, we drove back to the hardware store once again for more pipe fittings and another shutoff valve for the hot water pipe. This one was trickier because there was a rubber hose for the hot water and the connection was quite corroded. 

 

Matthew 6:34 “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

 

We disassembled the fittings and put new fittings on the pipeline, then installed the new shutoff valve in the middle. We tightened the rubber hose and turned on the water again to find that the hose connection was leaking badly, so shut the eater to the whole house again. We took the connection apart again and added sealant then tightened it again. This time that connection held water-tight, but the next joint up above the shutoff valve began to drop. I hadn’t tight the joint enough to seal the threads. We were fatigued and frustrated, so shut off the new valve and called a plumber. He can remove and replace the entire shower valve and nozzle, while changing out the hot water hose completely.

 

We cannot use the tub or shower, but water is on to the rest of the house. When life throws lemons at you, make lemonade. In this fallen world, it is not a matter of “if” troubles are going to come your way; it is a matter of “when” they come, because sometimes: "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.”

 

Counting your blessings,

In Christ, Brian