Burdens and Blessings
I have been blessed with many things in my life; some of them not blessings on the surface but revealed in more subtle ways.
For example, I have diverticulitis. I developed it when I was 32 and had surgery to remove the afflicted area, resulting in almost 20 years of pain-free existence. Unfortunately, the condition invaded the healthy tissue again 18 months ago and causes problems from time to time. During these flares, I am completely aware of my body, from the fever-induced chill to the twinge on my lower left side which becomes a stabbing reminder of my disease. I have learned that a quick adjustment of my sleep and diet habits (along with a strong dose of antibiotics) will right my condition in a few days.
Searching for the blessing in all of this, aren’t you??
It’s coming, I promise.
Part of the diet revamp includes no alcohol, and those of you who know me, know I love my nightly glass (or two) of wine. No wine always means better sleep, and better sleep means a return to my internal clock which magically sets its alarm to 4:40am.
Usually, I try to go back to sleep but today I climbed out of bed, put in my single vision contact lenses, grabbed my readers, my robe, and a flashlight. I wandered to the kitchen, started the coffee, and made my way to the front door. I made my way out into the dark, cool spring morning with the hope that I would catch a glimpse of the Lyrids meteor shower. I turned my gaze skyward anticipating glory, only to be disappointed with cloud cover.
Weather bug revealed I couldn’t drive out of the clouds to clearer skies so I poured myself a cup of coffee and trudged off to read. I walked into my office, noticing first the screensaver on my Mac- it is a night sky... filled with stars. I quickly logged on to YouTube and typed in Lyrids... and there it was.
Glorious images of what was happening above the clouds. Someone somewhere had thought to set a camera, just for me. Someone woke early enough to check film and set it to music so that when I woke early to clouds, my disappointment could be soothed with beauty. I’ve linked it at the end of this post, so you can enjoy it as well.
So, in case you got lost:
Burden (Diverticulitis) —> Blessing (Watching Lyrids Meteor Shower)
I’m trying to view our current world situation in a similar way.
Burdensome, isn’t it? Many of us can’t work or see our families. Schools have been closed. Graduations have been canceled, weddings have been postponed. We’ve been quarantined in a time of the year when we were SO READY to get outside and enjoy the freedoms that spring brings.
But we are so Blessed.
The last time a pandemic occurred in the continental US was in 1918. One hundred years ago an apple was nothing more than a piece of fruit, space travel existed only in the brilliant minds of men like Orson Wells and rotary dial telephones were the latest fad.
Imagine quarantine without iPads, PlayStation’s or a high-speed computer in every pocket? Imagine dinner without takeout or grocery store online ordering?
And just think about the thousands of people who didn’t get word and walked unknowingly into death’s path because the local news still arrived via weekly newspapers or scrambled radio waves.
Today we know the latest news at the moment it occurs. We have medical professionals receiving up to date information from scientists across the world. They have the advantage of other doctors’ experience with the click of a zoom app. We can innovate our factories to produce PPE instead of car parts in a matter of days.
Yes, these are trying days but they can be wonderful too.
Fill your moments of disappointment with wonderful things: Take a walk when you’re usually working. Play cards at the kitchen table instead of enforcing homework. Eat dinner at that same table, enjoying conversation with your people instead of cramming it in between practices, in the car. Take a class, learn to cook, start a garden.
May the days that follow allow you time and patience to create memories and reveal the blessings in your burdens.
Be happy.
xoxo
Link to Lyrids Meteor Shower
Kim Mosiman
