Occasionally I write a more personal message to my readers. Having undergone surgery recently, this is one such time.
How we respond to changes tells us about our trust in God. I had to spend an extra day in recovery because my body was not responding as quickly as expected.
The second night was a "dark night" of sorts. Weighing the "what if's" soon had me in deep prayer. Trusting the Shepherd and the prayers of my readers led me to adjust my expectations.
What if I had to live with certain limitations? Browning's "Prospice" came to mind: "Suddenly the worst turns the best to the braveAnd the black minutes at end". Other lines from didactic Victorian poetry followed.
Grace prevailed and I felt strengthened by prayer. Again, I thank you, family and readers, for your support. My concerns turned once more to living instead of suffering and dying.
Gratitude was high on my perception. How wonderful to anticipate simple, good health and the gift of each day.
Patience became a focus. With the patience born of country living - a new comparison came to mind. It is easier to be patient when you are starting to feel better.
Living with a generous spirit is the ultimate challenge. I would like to share this little story with you:
There is a true story of a young couple who ran a grocery store and gasoline station. In difficult times, some of the locals would beg the man to give them gas. Almost always, he would fill up the tank with gas and he would run into the grocery store and see what his wife was baking, cut a little slice of pie, wrap it up in aluminum foil and hand it to the family saying, "You've got the fuel for your car; now here is fuel for your body."
His friends used to say, "You know, you're crazy. You can't afford to do this. You don't exactly have a lot for yourself. It's not exactly that you have a booming business."
He would always say, "You know, it's the right thing to do because they are in need and I can do it. So I'm going to do it." He lived his life like that all the time. He did not know that he was going to die at a very young age of 48 with four children. The entire town came out for the funeral. The town rallied around the family and they were never in need. (from Rev. Brendan McGuire's 32nd Sunday Ordinary Time Homily)
Someone once said that we are no nearer our death today than we were on the day we were baptized. Let us focus on life.
