If I
had to choose a single word to describe the last seven days, it would be
"trying". I mean trying in the
sense that my patience has been tried, my equanimity has been challenged, and
my sense of "what will go wrong next" has been heightened. It's been a week of unwelcome events. I'll confess that there have been times when
I just wanted to crawl back under the covers and shut it all out. I won't bore you with the details - I've told
the story several times this week to different people and even I'm getting sick
of hearing it.
Throughout
these trying times, I've been lucky to have people around me who have helped me
to reflect on what I am experiencing. Those
people have helped me gain perspective and understand that my trials and
tribulations are minor compared to what other people are experiencing. At most, what I've had to endure has been
inconvenient and frustrating. Nothing
(so far) has been life threatening or even life altering. I am grateful for that - or rather, I should
be grateful for that. I'm working on it.
Misfortune, minor or major as it might be, has the
potential to awaken me to the mercy and blessings that often accompany it. It's only in reflecting on the past week that
I recognize the gifts that came to me through some adversity. When the power went out at my home, I played
Yahtzee with Thom and Marnie around the table by candlelight - a game I enjoyed
more than 50 years ago when camping at Berford Lake. When we could not cook a turkey dinner in our
oven (again, no power), our neighbours stepped in to cook it for us. The next day, my sister and brother-in-law
hosted us for a wonderful supper. When
the electrician and hydro workers visited to get things sorted out, they were prompt,
competent and generous with their help.
My house didn't burn down and no one was hurt. In the midst of minor turmoil, life went
on...as it should and must.
I won't go so far to say that I'm glad to have
experienced the events of the past week, but I will readily admit to gaining
deeper appreciation for the gifts of hospitality, friendship, competence, and
assistance freely offered. It has been
an experience that gives deeper meaning to the blessing that follows below.
May the Lord bless us and keep us, be gracious to us
and give us peace.
Pat
Quote for
the Week
"I've had a lot of worries in my life,
most of which never happened."
~ Mark Twain ~
FRIDAY QUESTIONS
Who do you love?
Whom do you serve?
How wide is your circle of compassion?
~ Omid Safi, Tapestry on CBC Radio One, October 16,
2018 ~
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