I got lucky this morning!!
1. Ed discovered the leaking hot water heater before it flooded the back bedroom and leaked all over the floor. And Skipper got here this morning, and the hot water is running just fine. I am grateful that we caught it, we could afford it, and someone came quickly to get it fixed. Wow, that's a lot of gratitude.
2. Because I was waiting for Skipper (what a great name for the plumber??), I wasn't out running errands and tuned into WHQR as usual. And today on 1A, Bishop Michael Curry was being interviewed. Can I just say I love to hear that man speak? He talks about the "Balm of Gilead" that soothes the weary soul. I would rewrite the hymn to say "the balm of Michael Curry." He soothes my weary soul! And I needed his soothing and re-directing this morning. I've unplugged all of the phones (can you believe we even still have a landline?), avoided any local news/television and am so glad my mailbox will not be full of slick, glossy propoganda today! I needed to be reminded today of the idea that if it is not about love, it is not about God. And that love is not a silly, mushy emotion you should feel for those who love you. It's love that is especially important to be shown to those that are not easy to love. We have to do that. And we need to pray - hard - for those we find hard to love. I love his quote that if we are praying for someone, we would find it hard to continue to hate. I am going to work on that. I am going to give it a try...again. I am grateful for the leadership of Michael Curry. I am grateful for a leader of my church that lives and breathes the Gospel message of loving your neighbor. And grateful that he challenges me to try to live the way of love--the Jesus Movement. I am grateful.
3. While I find the whole election process discouraging and sad at this juncture, I am grateful that I get to voice my opinion ... as do those who disagree with me. When I think of all that others have done to get this right, I want to take a minute to give thanks for those who have lived and died and fought to make it possible for me. I hope to remember this no matter how the day's results come in. Once again, I am grateful.
(And if you are stressed or need that balm, you can listen to the podcast of Bishop Curry on 1A with Joshua Johnson.)
