Today, I went to the apple store with a friend.  Her computer had randomly been restarting several times a day for 4 months.  As a college student, Christmas break presented the opportunity to survive without a computer.  After driving to 2 stores, an hour long phone conversation and story time with three levels of technicians, (and long holding patterns) at Apple tech support, we received a promise that her repair would be given an extension on the warranty, and for us to get the computer repaired we should either send it in to Apple or take it to an Apple store.  We chose the Apple store since we were heading there anyway.  (What’s one more stop!?) Upon arriving, we were told we could get a genius bar appointment in 40 minutes.  (I was very impressed this time of year!)  When her name was called, the man looked at the computer and listened to the story with skepticism.  He told us that he needed to test the computer to prove that what was diagnosed over the phone (and with 2 IT guys earlier)  was indeed the issue we were having.

The computer passed the first test with flying colors, and as he started the second test, he said “this is the one that will show us if the part they ordered will solve your problem… without the correct response, the system will not allow me to order the part, even though it was approved.”  Nervously, we waited to see what would happen.  While I expected a repair, a strange hope that everything was okay with the computer felt backwards.  Then it happened…a big red box with the word “FAILED” appeared on the screen, there is no mistaking that there is a problem with this computer.  With a sigh of relief, he allowed us to continue the transaction we had agreed on over the phone.  You see, unless the diagnostics revealed a failure, there was nothing he could do to help us.  Even though we were sure of the problem.  Fortunately, our outing was succesful and her computer will be functioning soon.  Best of all, apple graciously covered this $560 repair at no cost.

It’s really the same in my own life.  There are times when I need a change and I know it.  However,  without recognizing and admitting the problem, there is not a way that I can welcome a change.  Even a miraculous change of grace.  You see, only when I recognize that I fail, do I see a need for grace, and only then can I truly succeed in living a transformed life.

What ways do you accept grace in the midst of your failures?