JUST SETTLE DOWN

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  ~