Life matters

I just watched a movie where one of the characters said, "Life matters... even if only to the person living it."

There have been a lot of people who have influenced my life. I won't start naming folks for fear of leaving someone out. One first thinks of family, friends, teachers, pastors, coworkers. These are the ones who have lived with me and walked with me through the days and years of my life. They've seen me in good times and bad and I am grateful for them.

But, I can't ignore the folks whose life just brushes mine -- the people whose names I don't know, but whose actions influence me. I remember a situation at work from years ago. A client was so angry, he lashed out at me, calling me filthy names and mocking me. He was angry about his life situation, but he made fun of my physical inabilities -- all the things that go along with my ataxia. I was crushed at the time and had to leave work for a while to compose myself. I don't remember who he was and it's not important. What's important is that it caused me to do some soul-searching to try to figure out if I had aggravated his situation or not.... and to change things that were my fault in any way. He helped me to realize that we all have problems in life, but some of us just have problems that are more visible than others. He helped me to realize the need to be kind to all people I meet.

There are also folks who have made my life easier and I try to remember to thank them as I go along. As my ataxia worsens, I rely upon people more and more to do things for me. One of the greatest gifts a person can offer me is to open a door. Many, many people have done so. I used to tell people "No thanks, I can do it myself." Then, I realized that I was denying them the opportunity to give me what they had to offer. It's something I learned from children. Kids usually don't have the resources to give material things, but their kindnesses are a true blessing. I've realized that accepting a gift graciously is as important as giving. I'd much rather receive a sloppy kiss and hug from a three-year-old than anything from a department store.

So, does life matter? Yes, my life matters to me. I thank God for all the people who have touched mine in big or small ways. Whether it is for years or seconds, those brushes with another person are very important. I wonder how my life has touched others....

Food

I don't particularly like to cook. I don't particularly care what I eat. When folks say, "Let's go out for dinner. Where would you like to go?" My most likely response is, "I don't care. You pick a place." I'm a person who eats to live rather than lives to eat. So, what's the problem?

I can't eat today because of a medical procedure tomorrow. Because I can't eat, I am dreaming of yummy foods. Rand has fixed himself mashed potatoes to go with the leftover porkchop and gravy from yesterday...... Mmmm...... Would just a taste really hurt? Fresh baked bread would be wonderful. A roast beef au jus in the crockpot - Now there's a meal worth waiting for! As I opened the freezer to get another ice cube, so many things appealed to me and I wondered if just a little bit would be ok.

But, I know it would not be ok. Why do we want what we can't have? It gets us into trouble every time. Just last week when the temperatures were below zero, there was a story on the front page of the newspaper about a 6 year old boy who put his tongue on a pole and of course, he was stuck -- just like in the movie Christmas Story. He said he knew he shouldn't do it and he wouldn't do it again, but he'd been resisting for a long time and just wanted to give it a try.

I've done things I know I shouldn't have done. I don't plan to make this forum my personal confessional. I'm not Catholic and don't really understand how that whole thing works. But at least for tonight, I'm going to resist the food temptation. After the procedure tomorrow, I can eat again..... so maybe I'll spend the evening figuring out what to eat first.

A part of the story I overlooked

Today, I re-read the story of Jesus' baptism by John. It's a familiar story to me. I've read it many, many times in my 50+ years. But today I heard something different and I am so very surprised.

When John baptized Jesus, the story says that the sky split open and a voice came down saying, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am pleased." What I never noticed before was that Jesus was the only one who saw the Holy Spirit or who heard the voice. Read the story yourself in Mark 1:9-11. Pick any translation you like. I've checked many.

That's how it is...... we hear something and make our own assumptions about the details of an event without really listening. How many times have I heard just a little bit about a person or an event and made up the details to suit my own purposes? Seems like that's how bigotry and prejudice start.

Well, I've got to get to work......... and I need to really listen to what people are telling me. I need to quit filling in the blanks for other people. That's what I learned from today's scripture reading.
Nancy

More favorites

1. My husband Rand. He's my favorite friend and lover. Well, he's my only lover and my very best friend. He cares for me and loves me like no one else. I thank God for him every day of my life.
2. Mountains. Specifically, Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. That place reminds me of the power and glory of God. What a place!
3. Iowa farm fields. The corn and soybean rows are so orderly. The terraces are arranged so carefully to make a beautiful design.
4. Two things I once thought were luxuries have now become necessities. Mondays are my favorite days of the week because one week the Merry Maids come clean my house. The next week, I have a massage at Ancient Wisdom. Everyone should be so lucky to start their weeks this way.

My favorite things

In an earlier post, I said that I would make a list of things that remind me of God's goodness. Here are a few, in no particular order and I'll edit and add more as I think of them.
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1. Ice water..... for it quenches my physical thirst as God's presence quenches my spiritual thirst.
2. Children, especially my grandchildren......in small doses. They remind me that I must have the spirit of youth and a spirit of wonder to enter God's realm.
3. Older children -- young adults really. For they dream of what should be and how this world could become. They have the audacity to believe that dreams can come true. (And I use the word audacity as a compliment.)
4. My work. When I see folks who don't have jobs and want to work, I give a prayer of thanksgiving for my job, even tho it's not always easy. God cares for me enough to give me a means to provide for my physical well-being. I try to do my work to benefit others that God cares for.
5. My home. It's not fancy, but it suits my purposes. Again, this reminds me that God cares for me and protects me.
6. Coffee. I'm not sure how this reminds me of God's goodness, but I sure do like coffee. I probably drink entirely too much of it.
7. Sleep. "And on the seventh day, God rested."

And now, I'll rest also. More later.
Nancy