DO you have those times when more than one piece of equipment breaks down?

In recent days we’ve had two clocks deciding to stop, our internet connection broken and our DVD player damaged when our dog decided to take a closer look at the television. 

All were annoying but worst was the demise of one of the clocks.

For some years we’ve had an antique clock ticking away providing a heart beat for the house.

It is a family heirloom made in Victorian times residing in Devon until just after the millennium.

It then came into our possession, as did the responsibility for its care and maintenance.

However, if I wound it every week it would tick away merrily, but recently after winding, it refused to go.

No amount of pendulum swinging would do the trick so I wondered if the mainspring had broken. 

I took it to an expert, who, without examination, said that as a mass produced American type movement it could not be repaired.

Having been brought up with the make-do and mend mentality I decided to have a go myself.

My first theory was proved to be incorrect.

On releasing the power of the main spring it had painful repercussions for some of my fingers.

Following this I showed it to another expert who pointed out that there were damaged teeth on a vital cog and the motor had had its day.

There was only one thing to do, get a replacement.

After consulting Google I traced a replacement motor in America.

Although the clock has little monetary value I felt that for the sake of family tradition I should follow this up.

It duly arrived in Cirencester but true to form I had to collect it from the Post Office and pay extra handling and customs charges of £18.

Brexit came to mind. 

What else came to mind was that, with the state of the world in general, there is no shortage of power, a lot of it being released to damaging effect.

To those who believe in the power of God there is the responsibility of working together like the cogs of the clock to bring things under control and repair those things within their ability.

We don’t have to consult Google, there is this higher authority who is able to restore all things.

PETER GRACE
Cirencester Corps of The Salvation Army