Good morning, y'all. I hope your weekend is going well, and that you are staying well.
I started a story once, where America had had a wake up call. It started off in garden, with a women tending to her plants. She was pulling weeds, and the scene seemed as if it were a long time ago, until you looked at what she was wearing. She had on modern clothes, dingy and worn. And, as the scene panned out, you could see "modern relics" all around her. I flipped over to the beginning of this time, a man driving an antique pick-up. When the event happened, he noticed cars shutting down, suddenly, all around him. But, not his truck. It didn't have any computerized systems. His truck, alone, kept driving down the roads. There had been a major hit on the computer systems in the United States. And, it had disabled the entire system, for years. What it basicially did is simplify the lives of Americans. It brought them together again. It taught them a lesson. I had thought that we needed it, many years ago.
The thing about hard times, it either gives you wisdom or sends you into some toilet paper-induced frenzy that doesn't help anyone, even yourself. I had thought that the country needed a wake-up call for some time. The last time everyone in the country was brought to their knees was during The Great Depression. I noticed, even as a child, that it affected the people that lived through it, for the rest of their lives. They threw away nothing that could potentially be used again. Makes me wonder, will we always kind of hoard toilet paper?
I've never been improved more, as a person, as when I have gone through trials. Yesterday, I was quite bummed. And, honestly, I don't function well like that. I'm worried about quite a bit of things. There's a lot creeping through my mind as I sit over here alone, trying not to let it. But, the hardest thing that I ever went through, woke me up in a way that nothing else ever had. And, truthfully, I consider it a gift from God. This virus may be, too. We've been living in a state of self-righteousness for some time. Leader of the free world type syndrome. All's good. No worries. Not really...
I decided to go for a run yesterday afternoon. I trucked out to the Trinity Trail, and what I saw dripped through my soul like warm honey. Families. Everywhere. Dogs. Everywhere. As soon as I crept over the hill that hides the trail, a whole new world illuminated before me. The sun was shining, people were smiling, tails were wagging. Everyone was in groups of less than 10, and everyone was staying a "proper distance apart." But, I found that people were eager to smile. Eager to speak. Dogs were eager to be happy. Children were with their parents, grandparents. People had brought chairs and were sitting in the sunshine. It was a magical place. I've never witnessed more unity than I have in this age of social distancing.
I also had to run out to an appointment yesterday. I drove to north Fort Worth. I was invited into a home with two boys and two cats, one which was recovering from a leg amputation - a cat, not the boy... Anyway, it was like nothing had happened. I got them set up with security. They told me their plans for building a pool and volleyball area. He shook my hand, twice. I sat at the table with them. It was nice. When I got back, I spoke to my neighbor-lady. She's a police officer here. I just wanted to thank her for what she does. I know she can't just stop going to work. But, then, her husband thanked me for what I do, too. He noticed my shirt, and knew that I haven't stopped going out to work when needed.
See, I have to look for good things. I can't function without it. And, I refuse to not do that. I have to find something good in every single day. Things could always be worse. Honestly.
James 1:2-4
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
I think about swords - metal - what it goes through to be strong. Some of the hottest fire on the planet. It gets beaten. Bent. So incredibly hot. And, it survives. It comes out of that stronger, sharper, and better than in its original form. More than likely, nothing like it was before. A new thing. Serving a new purpose. Ready for battle.
As we go through this trial, I hope you find your trail. I hope the tails wag around you. I hope you get smiled at, and you smile in return. I hope you can find even the smallest good thing around you. I hope that warm honey drips through your soul.
Homemade Pancakes:
It's time for breakfast, y'all. I sure hope you can find flour...
1 1/4 cup flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
3 Tbs sugar
3/4 tsp salt
Combine all these things first.
Stir together 1 cup of milk and one egg. Then add it to the dry ingredients.
Lastly, melt 3 Tbs. butter - and fold it into mixture, until just mixed.
Enjoy!
I hope you find goodness today. Remember, we will get through this. Reach out. Be kind. Love.
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