When’s yours?   For me it’s first week into the new year (well, actually it’s since Dec, but just didn’t get the priority in the midst of the busyness).

The problem: water kept leaking into the toilet bowl and it sounded like the tank’s never full.

The Journey I Never Expected

First Response

When I finally had the time, I opened the lid and studied it (but wait, actually I had to clean it first because, yuck, it’s so worn-out deposits were growing all over the inside of the tank!).  Watched the mechanics, tried a few things (none of which worked hahah).

Bunnings Visit #1

Off to Bunnings and after weighing different things, I decided to get a new cistern altogether.  Also because the man said, ‘It’s easy, just unscrew 2 pipes, pop the new one in.  Done.’  I learnt later, NOT true!  

I started but got stuck as I needed more than the basic toolbox borrowed from my sis.  Unfortunately, I hosted a farewell party the day the toilet looked like this.

As a friend said, ‘You don’t want to mess this (toilet) up,’ but I did.  Tried using Airtasker in consideration of my guests, but didn’t work out and the toilet was still looking like that at the end of the night.

Bunnings Visit #2

Off to Bunnings early next morning, bought:

• pliers,
• a wrench (which turned out too small),
• a small saw (so I actually needed to saw the new flush pipe and link plate, can’t use kitchen knife , you know).

Pliers did all the dismantling.  However!  Water pipe was inflexible to fit into the new cistern..

Bunnings Visit #3

Bought:

• a toolbox (I figured might as well invest in it),
• a hammer drill (so I needed to drill into my concrete wall to mount the cistern and you need this thing called hammer drill ),
• a short water pipe (was asked to get 2 and return 1 later in case one is too small, but I thought I’ll take my chances and go with the short one).

The pipe was indeed too short!

Bunnings Visit #4

Back again for the 3rd time on the same day to get a longer pipe.

Then realised I needed drill bits! (the hammer drill didn’t come with them).  Toilet was already working though the cistern was hanging.

But it was late and shop’s closed.

Bunnings Visit #5

Finally, the next day, I went to get masonry drill bits (for brick walls).

Got back home, disassembled the new cistern again to measure and drill the wall.  Put it up properly this time.  Lastly, patched the holes from the old cistern.

More Than Just Toilet Fixing

I wouldn’t be sharing this if all I learnt was to be a mini plumber :P.  Instead, here’re some thoughts:

The problem stays until it is fixed

Or may be grows worse with time (noticeably or not).  Common sense?  Yes, but it took me a few weeks before I even looked at it.  Don’t you wait on your problem for a long time too sometimes?  For whatever reason, we may ignore / pretend some problems are not there (although, like the constant dripping of the water it may get our attention on and off.  But even then, I could get used to it and left it for weeks). 

Until I choose to recognise it, find the cause of it, then I can finally seek a solution.

I should know the way by heart by now

By the 3rd visit to the Bunnings, I knew the way there by heart, the upcoming roundabout to expect, the quickest turn to take, exactly where to park.  I think this is the way it should be once you find your way to the source of solution.  May be wondering at first, but with time, it shouldn’t even take any hesitation. 

For me, in life, this translates to turning to God already – I shouldn’t think twice.  He should be my first go, and quickly.

One size fit none

Even expert advice doesn’t always work, such as the recommended wrench that didn’t fit.  It is naturally so given the unique individual situations.  Broken toilets break at different parts.  Broken lives break in different ways. 

Hence, the answer usually is not simply just change your diet (biological), or just fix your head with mumbo jumbo positive thinking based on nothing (psychological), or just take your medication (physiological), or just meet people or get married (social / emotional).  You may get new problems for all you know, after following such 1-dimensional advice. 

That’s one of the reasons the Bible speaks to me.  Unlike many modern day quick fix ads that is spectacular nothingness, it is very nuanced when it comes to describing the human heart.  I know it does mine exactly right.

Life is often harder than imagined

Fixing my toilet took a lot more effort than I imagined.  I actually needed a wrench, now a saw too?  And yes, new water pipe please, even a hammer drill.

Is that not the normal life experience?  Life is often harder than expected.  It helps me see that by reflecting on where I am at now, how many unexpected events had happened in the past say, 10 years, that I wouldn’t have imagined.  If I had, I do not think I’d delight to walk the path ahead.  I think that is true for everyone.  Who had expected to go through all they have?  Although we all know broken relationships, illness, and even bereavement happen to everyone, we still don’t expect it to happen to us.  Thank God we are not shown all at once, but in stages.  10-years-ago self didn’t have the capacity and resources to handle what the now self would be able to.  I remember a talk I heard in Indonesia some years ago where the speaker said, ‘I would feel so trapped back then if I knew this is how life turns out.  But the fact is, I still stand today.’ 

Where did all those strength come from each time you need but don’t have them?  So I know, if I stand today, it is by the grace of God.

Hidden but no less real

I noticed the obvious first e.g., leaking toilet, then I found more as I progressed e.g., didn’t even know the problem lies there (and it’s called the ‘washer’?).

Applying to myself, apparent problem is easier to spot, a problem within is a lot harder.  I would notice my own glaring flaws, but it takes time to peel the layers of my own heart to recognise the subtle defects that’s still there and all real.  Isn’t it good too how God reveals it only bit by bit?  How patient too He must be to walk with me on this journey, being a perfect Being.  I mean, I don’t have the patience with people who are flawed even in the same way as me.  But He’s perfect, yet He doesn’t despise me.

Something breaks, you get wiser

Of course I could’ve gone with the plumber, but I was curious and silly enough to fix it myself, not knowing what it took.  However, after being stupid, it does remind me that when something breaks and you have to figure out how to fix it, you become wiser about it. 

Toilet fixing can definitely be outsourced (and perhaps should’ve been!), but life does throw you trials that require you to take it on yourself.  In a sense, you have to live your own life, make your own choices and learn your own lessons.

Often aren’t as they seem

The man at Bunnings looked at me unconvinced when I told him the coupling nut requires a wrench to loosen (he said use hand).  Then I realised, may be he looked and thought: what muscles does this little girl have?  Hey, I’m strong as an ant and can beat you up pretty badly you know (well, I used to fist fight as a kid anyway, that’s how I grew my invisible muscles! :P).

Also, just look at us, smiling so happily while we’re actually cautious to hold no.1 and prevent no.2 in my toilet that night!  

Who is your audience?

One thing I’ve changed over the past year is in relaxing my perfectionist ways.  I used to expect certain standard from myself if I were to do something, or else I don’t even want to do it.  

Then over a year ago, I was rebuked as to whom I’m trying to please – God or people?  Then I also realised that in some things (many actually), even if I were imperfect and even if I’m not the best person for it, if I am willing to do it, it may still benefit many.  So I ventured to do so and there had been several times in the past year when I wasn’t at all prepared the way I wanted to be, but I did it anyway. 

Now I find myself more at ease not having everything sorted, but may be, not having a working toilet for my guests is going a bit too far! Haha. :p

Anyway..

What does this experience end me with?

Well, a working toilet, a toolbox, knowledge, skills, experience in the matter, scratches in all my fingers, and a story to tell :).

I know what some of you are already thinking.  Don’t expect me to fix your toilet!