Silver Linings

The last month has been a little chaotic around here, and I'm not just talking about politics. It's been a good opportunity to practice having a positive attitude in the midst of craziness. I've learned quite a bit this month and discovered a number of things to be thankful for.

The girl who checks me out at the local pharmacy remembers my name.

I'm thankful for good health insurance.

I learned that my gynecologist started out as a religion major. Now I know why he's such a great doctor.

I've learned that 9 (nine) places in my body don't have cancer. Well, we're still waiting to hear definitively about 5 of them, but they seem to think it's just a formality.

I learned how to work a car battery charger.

I learned which places in town have the best machine to pump up a leaky tire.

I'm thankful for the guy at our tire place who didn't charge me for a repair. We'll buy more tires from him.

I know which wrecker to call when the car just won't go anymore. I'm thankful for his promptness.

I now know the names of one of the guys at the car repair place and two folks at the rental car place.

I've had the opportunity to drive, in addition to my own car, a Dodge Challenger, a Jeep Patriot, and a Nissan Versa. In case you ever need to know, the gas tank is on the driver side for all of them.

I'm thankful that several people earned money for their families by fixing my car even though it was totaled the next week.

I'm thankful for the sheriff's deputy who happened to be just a few feet away when the wreck happened and could vouch that it wasn't my fault.

I've learned that my usual emergency care place doesn't do third-party billing for car accidents so you might as well go straight to the ER.

I've learned that you can get a concussion without even hitting your head on anything. I'm thankful that none of us had any serious injuries.

I've learned that I can survive a week that contains both a car wreck and unrelated surgery.

I'm thankful for a hubby who took charge of everything, handling insurance, rental car stuff, meals, and more and for piano students who don't mind rescheduling lessons.

I'm thankful that I am not a journalist for any major news organization right now.

I'm thankful that I am not a politician responsible to any constituency for my support or non-support of the current White House administration.

I'm thankful that I live in a country where freedom of speech is guaranteed, and I'm thankful for our founders for the wisdom and discretion they exercised in creating our government.

I'm thankful for the deep discussions I've had with my daughter as a direct result of the current political chaos - discussions on character, integrity, self-control, and all the other fruits of the Spirit.

Words on Wednesday: Wendell Berry

Excerpt from "Sabbaths 2005" by Wendell Berry

XII.

If we have become a people incapable
of thought, then the brute-thought
of mere power and mere greed
will think for us.

If we have become incapable
of denying ourselves anything,
then all that we have
will be taken from us.

If we have no compassion,
we will suffer alone, we will suffer
alone the destruction of ourselves.

These are merely the laws of this world
as known to Shakespeare:

When we cease from human thought,
a low and effective cunning
stirs in the most inhuman minds.

Photo by Alex Rodríguez Santibáñez

Music On Monday: Where Charity and Love Are, God Is There

Yesterday, our associate pastor preached a strong sermon on the passage from Matthew 5:38-48 where we are told to turn the other cheek, hand over a coat as well as a shirt, travel two miles with someone who would compel one, and love our enemies. It made me think of the ancient hymn text Ubi Caritas. Some think that this text predates the formalization of the Mass and is from the early Christian church. It can be sung any time, but one of its traditional uses is at the washing of feet on Maundy Thursday. This is a beautiful setting by contemporary Norwegian-American composer Ola Gjeilo.

Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est. Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor. Exsultemus, et in ipso jucundemur. Timeamus, et amemus Deum vivum. Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero. Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est. Simul ergo cum in unum congregamur: Ne nos mente dividamur, caveamus. Cessent iurgia maligna, cessent lites. Et in medio nostri sit Christus Deus. Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est. Simul quoque cum beatis videamus, Glorianter vultum tuum, Christe Deus: Gaudium quod est immensum, atque probum, Saecula per infinita saeculorum. Amen.

Where charity and love are, God is there. Christ's love has gathered us into one. Let us rejoice and be pleased in Him. Let us fear, and let us love the living God. And may we love each other with a sincere heart. Where charity and love are, God is there. As we are gathered into one body, Beware, lest we be divided in mind. Let evil impulses stop, let controversy cease, And may Christ our God be in our midst. Where charity and love are, God is there. And may we with the saints also, See Thy face in glory, O Christ our God: The joy that is immense and good, Unto the ages through infinite ages. Amen.

Words on Wednesday: Quotes That Speak To Me This Week

“Authority without wisdom is like a heavy axe without an edge, fitter to bruise than polish.”
― Anne Bradstreet

“Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.”
― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

Self-love is often rather arrogant than blind; it does not hide our faults from ourselves, but persuades us that they escape the notice of others.
----Samuel Johnson

It is a sign that your reputation is small and sinking if your own tongue must praise you. 

-----Matthew Hale

“People who have so much of their personality invested in the Internet can’t really survive as whole individuals without it.”
― Mark A. Rayner, The Fridgularity