I almost always carry a pocketknife. It’s a practice I developed when I was fairly young.
You might be wondering, “What inspired you to do such a thing? Did you have a parent or grandparent that passed this on to you? Did you live on a farm or out in the sticks where it was a necessary tool?”
The answer is the knife in my pocket is an example of an instance where media influenced an impressionable young child. I picked up the practice from watching my main man MacGyver.
For those who may be unfamiliar with this national treasure, “MacGyver” was a popular TV show in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. I realize they’ve tried two reboots, but I was unaware these abominations existed until this very day.
“Mac,” as they called him in the show, was some sort of special agent, one-man counterterrorism unit. Wikipedia says this of Mac: “Resourceful and possessing an encyclopedic knowledge of the physical sciences, he solves complex problems by making things out of ordinary objects, along with his ever-present Swiss Army knife, duct tape and, occasionally, matches.”
From unlocking a door to repairing a broken engine to building inventions of all shapes and sizes, whatever the issue was, Mac’s trusty pocketknife was the tool for the job.
So upon discovering a small Swiss Army knife in my dad’s toolbox, I began carrying one. Over the years, I have found I have need of it more frequently than one might think.
A quick Google search just revealed a list of numerous uses one might have for a pocketknife. They include opening boxes, cutting ropes, tags and string, opening letters and my personal favorite, “You never know when you’re going to have to MacGyver your way out of a crisis. Be prepared.” Apparently, I wasn’t the only young mind that was molded by Mac.
Life often feels like an episode of “MacGyver.” We find ourselves in awkward positions, feeling woefully unprepared for the problem before us. In those moments, I find the Bible to be every bit as indispensable as MacGyver’s pocketknife.
I understand that I am a pastor, so I’m “supposed” to say that, but I find the truth it provides to be applicable to every situation life throws at me. While the pages of Scripture might not deal with every situation explicitly, it does provide principles that provide me with guidance and direction as I do my best to be and become the best version of myself on a daily basis — the version of me that God created me to be.
In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Paul puts it this way: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
When we need peace, the Bible provides us words of comfort. When we are feeling broken, it can provide us with words of healing. When we are feeling uncertain of what to do, it can provide us with words of guidance. When we are feeling defeated, it can provide us with words of hope and restoration.
It’s quite the useful tool to keep with us, and due to the advent of the smartphone, it’s always at our fingertips. Or better yet, we can store this tool in our hearts and minds.
Whatever the case, it’s better to be prepared. After all, “You never know when you’re going to have to MacGyver your way out of a crisis.”
The Rev. Dr. Jeremy Myers is the lead pastor of First Baptist Church in Seymour. Read his blog at jeremysmyers.com. Send comments to awoods@aimmedia
indiana.com.