Unplanned Explosions

After a long day I was thinking it would be a good pizza night. Ordering carryout would keep me from having to go to the store and cook, giving me at least an extra hour that evening. But the more I thought about it, the more I talked myself out of it, and I decided to make dinner for my family. So, after work I mustered up the energy to shop for groceries on the way home. (I know this sounds a bit dramatic, but with the way I was feeling that day . . . it’s pretty much spot-on.)

I prepared dinner while waiting for my family to come home, put it in the oven, and called my mother to say hi. Two minutes into the conversation, I heard a loud, siren-type sound and a big BOOM. I ran into the kitchen to see a spark fly out of the oven. Nervous and a bit scared, I moved toward the oven and, at a long arm’s reach, opened the door to find one bottom corner bright red, as if a fire were smoldering. The loud siren noise returned.

So many thoughts went through my head at once!

My house is going to burn down! (Yes, a bit dramatic.)

I am going to have to buy a new oven.

What are we going to have for dinner?

Why didn’t I just go with my gut and order pizza?

The timing wasn’t great. But I guess it would never be a good time for my oven to explode. Regardless, I wanted to just message my family and tell them they were all on their own and I was checking out for the day. That’s when I walked past my fridge and the magnet in the photo above was right in my view. Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. (William James)

There are many ways this quote can be interpreted and many different situations for which it holds truth. For example, my response to the oven fiasco would affect my family that evening. I had options, and although it wouldn’t be life changing, the way I chose to handle it would make a difference and set the tone for the rest of the night.

We face unexpected “explosions” daily in school: whether it’s an argument on the playground continued in the classroom after recess, an unplanned fire drill during a cold, wet day, a concerned parent needing our attention, a sick child who doesn’t make it to the nurse in time, or a student going through a family crisis, we experience it all. What we do in those situations makes a difference.

When my oven crashed, my reminder came in the form of a magnet on my fridge. Sometimes all it takes is a moment to pause and redirect. It could have been much worse. Fortunately, turning the oven off, disconnecting the power, and moving to plan B for dinner worked just fine. We still had family time at dinner, and as it turned out, my family didn’t care if they had carryout pizza or chicken casserole.

Since that evening, I have put this quote in a few other key places to serve as a reminder that my actions and attitude matter. You may find that it helps you, too. Feel free to use it, or create your own. Or, maybe you have a different quote that helps ground you during unexpected times.

Next time you have an unexpected explosion, I hope you are reminded that your response makes a difference. It does.