warp speed

I flipped the switch on the sewing machine and began to sew a sample line 

before stitching up the seams of a new kitchen curtain.

The machine hummed, and as I stepped on the foot pedal, it sprang into action,

whizzing out a startlingly quick line of stitching.

I knew something was not quite right, 

especially when I saw how irregular and frazzled the sample looked.

Had someone used the machine in our absence, and readjusted all of the settings?

I checked them out, making some minor changes, and tried again.

The machine whipped out another seam, just as fast and as messy as the first.

photo by Elise

Still puzzled by the warp speed and dreadful results, I decided to re-thread both the bobbin and the machine.  That would have to fix the issue.  But it didn't.  Once again, the needle flew across the fabric, and I realized all at once the real issue.

I was operating a 110v sewing machine on 220 voltage.

No wonder it was going so fast.

No wonder the light was so bright.

What a wonder it hadn't detonated.

I wasted no time in unplugging it and routing it through our transformer to regulate the voltage,

resulting, to my relief, in a perfect, normal-paced seam.

And it made me think of all the times when I'm just like that machine,

running at high speed, making a mess of things,

operating on the wrong power source. 
 

"...that you may live a life worthy of the Lord 

and please Him in every way: 

bearing fruit in every good work, 

growing in the knowledge of God,  

being strengthened with all power 

according to His glorious might 

so that you may have great endurance and patience,"

Colossians 1:10-11