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Air Conditioning
June 23, 2012

Those who work in education have a perk of more vacation, and I recently started my summer vacation. Big projects around the house include installing tile, carpet, a new front door, and painting a few rooms. On Friday, I was busy finishing up painting in a room that was scheduled for new carpet the next week. I was working hard to finish, because I am a Sabbatarian, a Christian who observes Saturday as the day of religious rest and worship. In the United States, that Sunday was also Father's Day, so I urgently needed to finish the room.

About noon, after dropping off the family dog at the groomers, I returned to the painting project to install molding, and light and electric outlet wall plates, when I noticed the room felt warm. No problem with my air conditioning. I walked a few feet to the thermostat and dialed down the temperature. I could hear the compressor engage outside, and returned to work expecting cool relief when nothing happened. Realizing that temperatures would approach near 100 degrees Fahrenheit, I knew calling for service was a top priority. My normal company wouldn't be able to get anyone out until Monday. Another company was able to get a crew out that afternoon. After a few hours of work, the diagnosis was a bad circuit board. The part would be in on Monday and the forecast for the weekend was hot. A portable unit that would provide relief for those next to it was all I had.

A few hours before sunset, I went to a store to buy cold snacks, ice cream, soft drinks, and extra bottled water. My thought was, if the family was going to be hot, these would provide some relief from the heat. While driving to the store, I noticed a huge thunderstorm was forming south of the house, and by the time I had finished, the storm was threatening. After I returned home, the storm blew in, and the rain that came with, lowered the temperature. In a few hours, it was like having the air conditioning up and running.

This reminded me of a time thousands of years ago when the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness, and had a cloud to protect them from the sun.

Numbers 9:15-23
And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning. So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents. At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents. And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD, and journeyed not. And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the LORD they abode in their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed. And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed. Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed. At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

The cloud was symbolic of God's protection, and provided protection from the sun. As a person who lives in the desert, I know a hot day is tolerable when there is shade. Iam also reminded of a passage of scripture that shows us that God knows our needs.

Matthew 6:1-8
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

I would not have guessed that on a hot summer day with my air conditioning out, my house would be near the same temperature with the AC on, and this reaffirms another scripture.

Romans 8:26-28
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what
is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to
the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to
his purpose.

Throughout the course of history, God has taken care of his people, and on that Friday night, he took care of my family, a small reminder that the wonder of air conditioning does not compare to the miracle of God.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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