God's Will...

Two months ago, I was told our furniture would be ready in exactly six weeks, "inshallah". That was about two weeks longer than the time any of the other places took to make an order, but I figured, hey, if it takes them that long then fine, as long as it comes out nice. Six weeks go by and I'm told it will take another two weeks, but it would come out perfect, "inshallah". I was a little flustered since 6 weeks was long enough as it was, but I thought maybe the guy is doing a really good job and it's just taking him a bit longer so I won't rush him.

Eight weeks and five days after the order was placed, I am sitting here staring at only HALF the order ("the rest will be there tomorrow at 6pm, inshallah"), and it's not within 1,500 miles of perfect, and I'm not about to let anyone blame God for their poor workmanship, ineptitude and carelessness! Come on, it wasn't really God's Will that came in the way, now, was it? Inshallah just seems to be the perfect excuse... people who use it to guarantee their promises seem to think of it as some magic phrase that instantly relinquishes them of all and any responsibility towards their commitments because they've just passed the buck to God. Now I'm a God fearing person and, yes, I do believe very firmly in the power of God, but you just can't blame God for things falling through if you didn't do what was needed to fulfil your commitment in the first place. I understand if there are things that happen beyond one's control, but how can you blame your own actions (or lack thereof) on God? Tell me you're not a great craftsman and so I should expect flaws. Tell me you like to go on vacation for weeks at a time and so I shouldn't expect to hear about my things till next year. Tell me you're lazy, you're absentminded, you're inept, you procrastinate, you don't know what you're doing... but don't drag God or religion into it. Take some responsibility! They love to bring religion into everything, but they forget the biggest part of religion... accountability.

I just got the call I was waiting for: "Sorry, your furniture will be late; it will be there by 8pm, and one table will come Saturday, but it will come out very nice......... Inshallah. "

And there it is... the magic phrase. Now it could come today, Saturday or next year, and could have a million imperfections; but I can't blame them because, you know, it's all in God's hands now...

Yeah, right... and it has nothing to do with the fact that the carpenter went on a month long vacation and he's not been making it up by working weekends or cutting back on his two hour lunches and tea breaks and now because of my screaming and yelling he's having to hurry up and do a weeks work in a day, not to mention he just isn't a good carpenter...

I'll believe it when I see it. Just get it here... and keep God out of it.