Now seems like one of those times. Though I try to always be really positive, there are times in life, I think, when we all feel beat down. For me, this is one of those weeks. Coming home sick from visiting my Nanny & family in Panama City definitely started things off on the wrong foot. The uncertainty of her health & sudden passing away continued the progression. Next came news of dear family friends whose 6 month along pregnancy was in the most precarious situation. It appeared she was certain to lose at least one of the babies (she's expecting twin boys) and even likely she could lose both & her uterus. Today, I received news from a law school friend that her mom, who has Multiple Sclerosis, was diagnosed with breast cancer.
I always think it's interesting in movies, plays, etc., when the weather matches what's going on with the characters, I can't think of what that's called - I know Romeo & Juliet has it - oh well, maybe someone reading this rant will know what I'm talking about =). Anyways, the weather has been so dreary this week & the rain has absolutely poured out of the gray skies this weekend. Last night actually, Chris & I were running an errand downtown & I realized my shoe was filling up with water not because I was stepping in puddles, but because I had a hole in my shoe. A hole that seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Seriously. So, as my nose ran, I coughed like someone who had smoked 2 packs a day for the last 10 years & walked through the wet, slimy street getting Lord only knows what kind of funky disease on my poor foot, I felt thoroughly sorry for myself.
But you know, life's all about perspective. Chris & I recently watched this documentary about the Apollo missions - men who had been to the moon. I remembered how they talked about being able to look down at earth & hide the entire world behind just the tip of their thumb. That's really how big we and our problems are in the big scheme of things. It's so comforting to know that God is so much bigger than this world and the heartaches that can sometimes accompany it.
And, it's amazing to know that even in this life, the storms are relatively few & far between. This morning we learned that so many prayers had been answered & our friends pregnancy, though still needing prayers, had been spared. Hearing this completely restored my spirit - I could totally feel my heart lifting & truly felt like God was smiling down at me. I know we can't understand the ways of God, or that what happens today is no guarantee for what the future may hold. But, I do know that God provides and this morning, He provided the lift my spirit needed to walk on in the current storm - hole in shoe & all =).
Reflecting on more peaceful times . . . Sorry the pic. is so blurry - it's a camera phone shot from the last time I was at the condo.
***MOST IMPORTANT PART - Please pray for the Backus (pregnancy) & Goodin (Multiple Sclerosis & breast cancer) families.***
3 comments:
Good blog! I'll say a prayer for Lee's family & your friends.
The Jenks Ave. young adults had a Bible Study on Tuesday, and Carlos & Daniel let me lead it. We're walking through the Gospel of John, so we got to do John 9 -- one of my favorite chapters in the whole Bible. At the very beginning, the disciples ask Jesus about the blind guy, and what he or his parents must have done for him to be cursed the way he was. It's the question, "Why do bad things happen?" And Jesus' answer was so that the light can shine in dark places.
Your post also reminded me of another of my favorite passages -- Romans 8:18-25. Like verse 20, you were subjected to frustration, and not by your own choice. And with all the bad events, you've been "groaning" like in verses 22 & 23. It's a sign of maturity that we recognize & feel the hurt and pain in the world, and learn to deal with the hurt and pain in our own lives.
You're right: sometimes there are storms. But we know that God put a rainbow in the sky. Thanks again for your thoughts
What a beautifully honest and encouraging post. Thank you for sharing such personal thoughts. I will definitely be in prayer for the Backus and the Goodin families. Love you!
English major geekout: the use of weather as externalized representation of the protagonist's emotions is called pathetic fallacy! (pathetic like empathetic, thankfully not like lame.)
And I agree, great thoughtful post.
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