Life is like a leaky faucet. The hassles, frustrations, and aggravations of day-to-day living are always there. Sometimes I can fix the problem. Unfortunately, though, if I fix one drip, chances are that another one will appear. Sometimes the leaks cannot be repaired. And that steady drip-drip-drip can drive me crazy.

The truth is, I can’t always control the drips:

having someone cut me off in traffic

my boss’s rebuke

financial cut-backs or unexpected bills

my children’s less-than-perfect behaviors.

It’s not always the floods of life that drown me. Often, I am consumed by the small, constant drips.

But, the other day, I noticed something kind of interesting about my leaky bathtub faucet. If I stick my toe under the faucet while it’s dripping, the sound changes. If I place a washcloth on the tub under the faucet, I get an even different sound. When I played with various surfaces under the drops, it almost sounded musical.

The leak never changed. It was still water dripping in the same steady rhythm. It was the surface on which the water landed that changed the sound. You see,

If I struggle with anger, then having someone cut me off in traffic can seem like a personal insult.

If I think I am always right, then my boss’s rebuke becomes a major battle.

If I hunger for material possessions, then dealing with financial cut-backs or unexpected bills can send me over the edge.

If I am overcome by pride, then my children’s best efforts may not be enough to please me.

BUT

If I have a soft heart, then I can excuse someone else’s mistake.

If I am teachable, I will seek to learn from another’s correction.

If I trust the Lord with my finances, I will pray when the unexpected occurs.

If I am humble, I will be more likely to overlook the mistakes and weaknesses of others.

In John 16:33, Jesus reminds me that on earth I will always have problems, but through Christ, I can have peace. In Romans 12:2 I am reminded, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

The leaks aren’t going anywhere. It’s where they land that makes all the difference. Our goal should be to let God change us—our hearts, our minds, our words, our actions—so that we can act and react in a Godly way. When the surfaces of our lives are in tune with God, then maybe the drips will actually sound like music.