Skip to main content

Bad Days.


 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)
            Normally, I try to finish writing a blog post by lunchtime the day before I share it with you. It’s a bad day if it takes that long. It’s a really bad day if it takes me until dinner. And now, it’s 10:00 pm, and I’m only now reaching a point where I can write, and getting here has included not only anger but tears. 
            Part of the problem is all that is going on around us, the virus, and the hatred. Part of the problem was that it was a Thursday when I have a volunteer job that I want to do, but that takes the better part of the afternoon. Part of it is that I had plans for when I came north that aren’t happening because of the virus, because I don’t have a clue what I’m doing, and because I’m afraid to go out and fail. 
          Part of it is that I got it into my head to garden and forage and that there would be this abundance of food that would feed me, feed my neighbor, stock my larder and let me take food to the food pantry. The book I got on foraging puts it bluntly – foraging isn’t going to feed a person and my little garden might help feed my neighbor and me, but it’s likely to have much left over – at least not at the rate it’s going.
           Part of it is that I decided this morning to buy some strawberries, to make strawberry sauce, and to can it. Somehow, I got it into my head that 6 pints of strawberries would make lots more sauce than it did. I planned to violate the laws of physics.  I had dreams of filling my shelves with sauces, jams, diced tomatoes, and whatever else I could dream up. 
          I’m not the only one with dreams that aren’t fitting with reality. There are people who think that when the governors open up their states, they’re going to emerge from their homes into a pristine world best described by the song Imagine. I can’t think of a more horrible world, but it’s going to be clean, the virus is going to be gone, and everything’s going to be wonderful. Not.
         Then there are those who think that if those nasty white folks and conservatives would just drop dead, everything would be wonderful. Sorry, fallen human nature is fallen human nature, as evidenced by the people practicing racism in their denunciation of racism. 
          The thing is, in each of these dreams, we’re dreaming, not planning, not dealing with reality, and not looking for God’s will. Fortunately, God keeps working. So now, having gotten next to nothing done all day except making a little over 6 pints of half-decent strawberry sauce that I'd dreamed would bew at least twice that – and learning – I’m going to go to bed so I can get up and share this with you. And, I’m going to thank God for being God, and for continuing that work that He’s doing because He’s God, in hope that tomorrow will be a better day.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more