Hope Restored...

Today I received a gift...an absolutely wonderful gift that has infused my hope tank in humanity with so much hope that it is overflowing.

When I went to get my mail, there was my book. The one I left on the airplane. In hope I had left my contact information with the woman who had been my gate agent when I boarded our flight back to Scranton. She had checked on the gate and new that the aircraft wouldn't be leaving again till morning. When she finished her shift she must have gone over from the F terminal to the C terminal and retrieved my book from the seat pocket herself and sent it in the mail. I was just overwhelmed with gratitude. That such a simple thing, yet one that required effort beyond the ordinary on her part, was accomplished and meant so, so much.

That's the way it is, isn't it? It is often small things, yet things that carry such personal significance to us, that mean so much. Yet they require a bit of effort. Usually not too much, but just enough to inconvenience us, or require us to just go out of our way, putting others first. So that's one of those things that should be passed forward.

I am going to make sure United Airlines gets a note, a good kind of note, lauding her for going out of her way to return this personal and precious item for me. And then think of others who could use that little bit of encouragement or affirmation. It is these kinds of thoughts that rattle around in my head when I think about wanting to write about an inconvenient faith: from comfortable complacency (which is where so many of us are...) to contagious compassion, where if we positioned ourselves the world could and would be a better place.

Why not make the world a better place for someone else today the way Mary Hernandez did for me?

Peace.

TwoThoughts for the Day till Later...

Another day...

Two thoughts. One came from a lovely, helpful lady I spoke with on the phone yesterday who is now aware of my soap opera life. In trying to negotiate a difficult and trying situation, I was cracking jokes, because, well, humor is therapy.

Her reply? Thought number one: "It is better to crack a smile than to crack up."
How true.

Then I decided to bake some chocolate chip cookies this morning. I must say, when I am on (don't get distracted and let the cookies burn, for example) I have mastered the chocolate chip cookie. I will explain why later, but told my mom who just couldn't understand why on earth I was baking cookies on top of it all, I simply replied,

"there is a method to my madness." To which she replied "there is a madness to her method." Both true!

Peace on your journey.

An Update

I covet your prayers. For peace, strength, love, more love and wisdom.

My father is in a coma. He is not responsive and although on a respirator, is breathing above it. That, and stable vital signs seem to be the only good medical news.

We (myself, Matt and my mother) agreed yesterday that love trumps all. So please love others. Please put love first in your life. Please consider how to communicate that love to others you love so they feel and receive it.

We are being led down a path that many walk but is horrible. In all I do I choose to honor what my dad would have wanted.

From now on I will respond to others as only one who has been through this can.

Thanks.

Growing Weary...

...but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (Isaiah 40:31)

Well, yesterday was a weary day. I'm glad that when I look up I can be encouraged, its when we forget to look up and get dragged down that things can really start to slide...so the cool thing about God's promises are that the truth of His words will bless us when we keep our end of t he deal. And life without hope is pretty bleak.

So, several things made yesterday a weary kind of day, and it would have been really easy to get discouraged.

• It was the first day of school, and the years just are flying by faster and faster. Tianna took the bus, which is a choice she made, but also simplifies things for us on the logistical end significantly. The stop does require that she cross a busy road. I know that its the law to stop behind the flashing red lights of a school bus, but some people are just nuts. I won't embarrass her by crossing her over, but I do wait to make sure she gets safely across. We are also getting up earlier than we have in the past which adds to the weariness, but it was more of an emotional weariness.
• I spoke to Matt and the two living situations he was pursuing in Ithaca for the fall fell through. It's his deal to get a place, but I just cant' totally divest myself of "mom". There have got to be better options than a year lease for a place that he only needs for four months. This is a lesson in see what happens when you wait till the last minute. Unfortunately the last minute has typically worked for him...
• I took my mom for her MRI last night. It is difficult to see your parents age, and I have a feeling there may be some significant lifestyle changes coming down the pike. She is very strong willed (maybe that is where Nicole gets it from...) and I question how compliant she will be....but we'll see.
• I have been missing exercise since June, so I went to spinning class today, and that made me physically weary :)
• The girls arguing after school also made me weary.

And I could probably add a few more...

So soaring on wings of eagles is sounding pretty good right now...as does not being faint. So I ended my day after the girls were in bed and after Howie and I had a chance to catch up by talking to my dear friend Katy until I was so weary I had to go to bed. But I went feeling hope and at peace with the world.

Rays of Hope

I love it when the light breaks through the darkness; to me it is as if God is sending a touch of hope, a glimmer of His Kingdom, a reminder of light conquering darkness, of grace prevailing.

And it doesn't need to be just some abstract concept. We can (and I think should) be a part of bringing that hope and grace to people around us. Gratitude, a smile...or anything that can bring hope to others.

Rays of Light, Rays of Hope

For today, a simple post. I was driving to drop my daughter off at a friend's house, and noticed the rays of sunshine peeking out at me from behind the clouds. I have a soft spot in my heart and soul for rays of sunlight just like these that emerge from behind the darkness. It is as if God is reaching down to let me know that whatever my desert experiences, it will be OK. No matter what pain, heartache, or absurd stupidity (like the fact that Little League won't accept our older daughter's birth certificate, ORIGINAL birth certificate at that...because it was issued more than a year after her birth date...well, duh, she was born in Vietnam half way around the world, and our wonderful US Government simply doesn't work that fast. Heck I can't ever get a real voice on the phone when I call Government offices...more on that later) the sunshine touches me with God's grace.
It is as if he is smiling down on me in reassurance and reminders that He will never leave me or forsake me, no matter how alone I may feel, or how much in control of several spinning out of control situations I would like to be.
So for today, for the rest of the day I will rest in His comfort, and pray that through my cracked and imperfect being some of His light will also shine out and touch others.