The Hole in Our Basement

Laura Booz: Do you want to know the good news or the bad news first? 

Well, the good news is that we caught the chipmunk. We did! And that’s very good news because it had wreaked havoc in our house. 

Hi there. You’re listening to Expect Something Beautifulwith Laura Booz. 

Oh, it started innocently enough. One day we were just sitting in the living room when I heard something in the trash can. But by the time I got up and checked, there was nothing there. So, I figured it must have just been a piece of garbage settling in for the night. 

And then a couple days later, I heard a little rustling in the drawer above the trash can, where we keep our wash cloths and towels. But by the time I opened the drawer and checked inside, there was nothing there. 

So, I thought maybe my imagination was just playing tricks on me. But a few days after that, I opened the drawer and there were some asparagus spears, potato chips, and a cheese stick wrapper laying on top of the wash cloths. 

And the next day, I discovered more unsightly evidence. I realized we had ourselves a little visitor. I was frustrated with myself because I hadn’t taken those early signs seriously. And now days had gone by, and this little critter was making himself at home . . . in our house! I didn’t want to think about where he was curling up to sleep or how many friends had joined him. 

I was also frustrated with myself, because I knew how he had gotten into our house, and I had done nothing about it. 

You see, several weeks before, we had gotten our huge ancient water heater removed from the basement. The workers had also removed two pipes and left two holes in the stone wall. 

As the work truck drove away with the water heater, I noticed the holes, and I thought, They’re the professionals. Surely if this was a problem, they would have said something or filled them in.”

I thought that maybe they intended to come back some day. I thought for sure my husband would notice the holes and fill them in, because he is always, always on top of things like this. 

So, I just let the days pass. I didn’t think this was my responsibility. 

Every morning I went down to the basement to use the treadmill and I’d think, There’s still those two holes in the wall. But I never did anything about it. 

I shouldn’t have been surprised the morning I walked down and saw Niagara Falls in our basement. Water was gushing from the main line that led up to the kitchen sink. The critter had gnawed through the pipe. Oh, how I wish I had set traps the night I heard rustling in the trash can. I wish I had filled those holes in the basement walls the moment I noticed them. 

Why had I been so lackadaisical? Why had I ignored this obvious problem? Well, I was paying attention now. 

I called for Ryan, and we were in crisis mode. We were bucketing that water so fast, calling around town to get that pipe fixed, asap, mopping up water, finding the dehumidifier, turning it on. What a mess!

Then, I got in the car and drove to our local dollar store in search of mouse traps. I was fuming over my carelessness and the damage I had allowed. I walked into the dollar store with focus in my eyes and a grimness on my face. I meant business.

I cleared those shelves of every mouse trap, rat trap, sticky trap, box trap, spring trap, they had. I threw in several tubes of foam filler. 

When I got home, we filled the holes and set traps in every possible place a critter would want to go. I wish I could say it broke my heart to consider what we were hoping to find in the morning, but I need to be honest and say, I was ready. It was time for this little guy to go. 

I felt badly. I wish I had taken better care of him. I wish I had taken better care of my home. 

All of this helped me to reflect on what might be a bigger lesson here. And I realized that it’s even more important to be careful about the condition of my soul. 

• Was I paying attention?
• Was I being vigilant?
• Was I cherishing my relationship with the Lord and with others?
• Or was I giving into a temptation?
• Was sin crouching at my door?
• Was I trying to deal with areas of disappointment or grief with my own coping mechanism, and leaning on my own understanding, instead of asking the Lord to mend my broken heart? 
• Was I in a season of ease and complacency?
• Was I letting my guard down and becoming vulnerable to unholy philosophies and entertainment and habits?

This was just the opportunity I needed to reflect with the Lord and ask if there was anything in my life that was like those holes in the basement. Scripture is full of passionate warnings for us to take immediate action about a whole variety of circumstances. 

**Think about the Proverb, “If your words ensnare you, free yourself like a gazelle.” (Prov. 6) Think about Jesus telling the woman who was caught in adulty to go and sin no more. Or the time Jesus told the young rich ruler to “Go and sell everything you have and come follow Me.”

Think about the time when Jesus told His disciples, “If you are heading to worship Me and you remember that you’ve offended a brother or a sister, drop everything immediately and go make things right.”

Think about Proverbs 4:23 that says, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” 

I realized then and there that when the Holy Spirit brings something to my attention, I don’t want to ignore it. After all, He’s doing it because He loves me. He’s doing it for my good so that I may stand firm and be free indeed so that I may love Him wholeheartedly and love my neighbor as myself. 

He’s doing it so I may flourish. But oh, it can be so difficult to take immediate action. It can be hard to face a besetting sin or to flee from temptation. It can be challenging to ask for help, to get up, to stay alert. It can be hard, but it’s so important. 

Our heavenly Father is so good. You and I are so precious to Him. Let’s not be lackadaisical; let’s not think that our spiritual health is somebody else’s responsibility. Instead, when He brings something to our attention, those metaphorical holes in the basement wall, let’s respond with, “Yes, Father.” And then with His grace and health, let’s take a look, let’s close up those holes, let’s take immediate action. 

Yes, it was good news that we caught that chipmunk. Now, are you ready for the bad news? Here’s the bad news, that trap had been dragged half way across the basement floor and only the chipmunk’s head remained. Mmm. Turns out we had an even bigger problem on our hands. One only the exterminator could tackle. 

I do not know exactly what happened to that well fed rat, but I do know he is no longer in our farmhouse. I do know that I am a different kind of homeowner now. I am passionately vigilant about holes in our basement. I am passionately vigilant about rustling sounds in the trash can. And I have learned the importance of taking immediate action. 

You’ve been listening to Expect Something Beautiful with Laura Booz. 

Expect Something Beautiful is a production of Revive Our Hearts, calling women to freedom, fullness, and fruitfulness in Christ.