LOL, God...LOL. :)

Note: I struggled to find a scripture about God loving a good joke, or having a sense of humor, or creating the platypus.  But, if you have one...please share! - K

Ah, vacation.  Just the sound of those three sweet syllables evokes a feeling of peace, calm and general happiness for me.  Vacation is one of those things that we eagerly anticipate and count the days until its arrival.  Every year, Evan and I venture north to Bryson City, NC – our absolute all-time favorite place to be.  We took our first trip there in October of 2004, celebrating both our recent engagement and my 21^st birthday (a trip to the Biltmore House winery was a must!) and save for a few years of veering off the NC path, we’ve returned nearly every fall since then.  This year, we decided on a spring trip.

We just love being in the mountains.  There’s no other place that puts us more in touch with the true awesomeness of God’s creation.  Staring up at the stars at night, watching the sun rise over the mountains at dawn, listening to the birds chirp…completely uninterrupted by TV, phones, computers, people, and the every day hustle and bustle, it’s just absolute heaven.

We’re big hikers.  No, not when we’re at home in the flat land.  Southwest Florida’s weather isn’t really conducive to hiking, save for those two or three days in February where the temps seem to plummet to mid-20s, only to reach 70 again by the end of the week.  And even if the weather was perfect, there’s just not much to “hike” down here.  Oh sure, we could hit some of the preserves, or venture to Ocala, and we probably will some day, but to me, nothing could match the magic of NC. 

Once we’re in the mountains, it’s on.  Our first hikes out of the gate this year totaled an easy eight miles, which was a great warm-up.  We hiked along Kimsey Creek, then up to Big Laurel Falls and Mooney Falls.  These are off Forest Road 68, near Standing Indian Campground.  If you’ve never traveled a forest road, you’re missing out.  Essentially, your vehicle becomes one of those skilled mountain goats that balance on the edge of cliffs, daring to reach for the loan dandelion peeking through a crack.  Many of them are precarious, but so worth the risk.

On day two, we decided to hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail that was highly recommended by one of the friendly gals at Nantahala Outdoor Center.  It’s a moderate hike, not too difficult, just lengthy.  We started at Winding Stair Gap, right off Highway 64 near Wayah, and would end at Siler Bald.  Once you’re at Siler Bald (a mountaintop with little to no growth other than grass) you get these phenomenal near-360 degree views of the Smokies.  Incredible.  Nine miles total, in and out.

The hike started off great.  Weather was gorgeous, in the low 60s and partly cloudy.  The trail was easy to follow, as we gradually left Laurel Creek and ascended the mountain.  We ran into several AT thru-hikers along the way, making the trip from GA to ME.  All were friendly, and most were heading to the shelter at the top.  After a couple hours, and a half mile detour, we reached the bald.  The trail had been a little muddy going in, as it had sprinkled a bit on and off near the middle of the day.  Once at the top, we picnicked lunch and snapped photos.  The skies had turned from partly cloudy to overcast, and it seemed rain would be making its way through again.  A few loud thunderclaps erupted, and we figured it would be best if we made our way back down.

On the way out, we past half a dozen more AT thru-hikers, in three different groups.  All were on their way to the bald, staying overnight at Siler Shelter.  All were somewhat impressed with the folks from flat land, putting in so many miles while vacationing.  One hiker, an Iraq war vet and Combat Medic, said no amount of training he did while enlisted prepared him for hiking the AT.  We all swapped stories (theirs were, of course, more interesting than ours) and parted ways.

About a half mile after our farewells with the last group, the thunder really picked up.  The sky was now a deep purple; no longer a soft gray, with sunbeams peeking through.  We were still high enough up in the mountain that the tree cover wasn’t the best; most trees were still sprouting spring leaves, leaving bare branches as our protection.  Rain began to trickle down, at first a mist, then a real thunderstorm.  We threw on our extra thermals (no hats or weather proof clothing for us day hikers) and we carried on.

After what seemed like an eternity, but was really just a mile or so, the rain finally let up.  We stopped to wring out our soaked thermals, adjust our soggy socks, and take a breather.  We laughed at our luck, getting rained on during a beautiful hike.  We figured this would be yet another tale from vacation we’d pass on to our kids and grandkids.

With three miles left to go to reach the trailhead, we continued on, knowing more storms could be looming.  Our “halfway” point to 64 was Panther Gap; after that, just a couple miles to go.

A bright flash of lightning lit up the clearing sky, and I wondered if those hikers had made it to the shelter yet.  I also counted the seconds to the thunderclap, while thinking I’d never researched to see if that old wive’s tale was actually an accurate way of judging the storm’s distance.  I made it to five before the boom filled the mountains, reminiscent of a Fourth of July finale.  Evan made a crack about it raining again, and I remember telling him he’d surely jinxed us.

We might have made it a quarter mile or so in the mild weather before what I originally thought was a monsoon kicked in (so much for the old wive’s tale).  This time, the storm didn’t begin with a sprinkle…it turned on like a faucet.  No, that might not even be an accurate description…it was as if a giant water balloon was being held over our heads, and someone pricked it with a pin, causing a deluge.  The rain was so heavy, you couldn’t see the trail.  And, because it was nearing 4:30p, the temperature had dropped from an oh-so-pleasant 64 degrees to a man-I-wish-I-had-long-underwear 45 degrees.  After a few hundred more yards, the concept of avoiding wet portions of the trail disappeared, as we were literally walking through a creek.  Boy, was this rough!

Finally, we reached Panther Gap.  No stopping, no wringing out wet clothes or adjusting soggy socks, we just powered through.  This meant only a couple miles to go.  I knew that once we reached Swinging Dick Gap (yes, really – probably some AT hiker’s joke) that we would be less than a mile from the trailhead, which meant less than a mile from the safety of our truck.  Onward, we sloshed.

Many times during our sloshing down the trail, we made “Oregon Trail”-esque comments – “Double team the wagon!” or “Use ropes!” or “Evan has died of dysentery!” (we have a very unique sense of humor). 

As we closed in on Swinging Dick Gap, I could hear Evan behind me uttering small cries of pain, which immediately caused me to believe my husband was sliding down the mountainside, leaving me alone in the pouring rain on the AT nearing dusk and surrounded by hungry (yet friendly) hikers.  I called back, just to make sure he was okay (no taking your eyes of the trail in a monsoon, or certain death awaits) and he hollered, “It’s HELL!” to which I thought, “Well, not exactly – maybe God’s idea of a haha funny joke, but not hell…”  He repeated his words, and I realized he didn’t mean hell…he meant hail.  And sure enough, just when I’d thought that God’s greatest crack was the duck billed platypus – we found ourselves in a hailstorm.

Golf balls rained from the sky, beaning us in the head and filling the muddy rivets in the trail (“Your oxen are stuck!”).  On the plus side, the rain had let up a bit.  Also, I’ve learned that hail hurts exactly as much as you think it would.  And now, not only were we focusing on not sliding down the mountain in a river of mud, but also on not twisting an ankle in the neat little igloo piles forming in every bend.  Somehow, we made it through Swinging Dick Gap with our bones intact.

One would think that the monsoon, and resulting hailstorm, would be enough for one trip back, but you’d be wrong.  On the hike in, you cross Laurel Creek three times – two of these crosses are minor, taking only two or three steps – but one of these crossings is a bit wider (“Ford the river!”) and requires some skill and balance on a long, skinny log.  Well, if you’ve never seen a creek or river rise after a rainstorm, think of what happens to your back porch when you leave the water hose on in the pool for three or four hours.  That’s right, some of your patio furniture just might float away.

The first two crossings went as well as can be expected, but at the final, our neat little log was now beneath the raging (at least from my POV) waters of Laurel Creek.  And while Ev decided he could, in fact, find and balance on this log, I used my years of Oregon Trail training and, that’s right, forded the creek.

By the time we hit the final crossing, the hail stopped, and the rain turned to a light trickle.  But we were still soaked to the bone.

Now, here’s what I take away from this adventure…some folks I know would probably have been pretty ticked about the rain, and vehemently mad about the hail, and most likely cursing the skies by the time they reached Laurel Creek.  But, the Cokes found the whole thing not only amusing, but downright fun.

Yes, it was raining, monsooning and hailing; it was frostbite inducing weather, and we only had one towel between us to share.  But truth be told, it was a blast!  If you can’t laugh about these situations, if you can’t find the humor, what’s the point?  God didn’t give us horrible weather for punishment…weather just happens.  But it’s what we do with it that makes the difference.  Me being upset that my underwear were probably visible through my sweats wasn’t going to stop the rain.  So why get angry?  Why not just appreciate what we’ve been given, and have fun with it?

This adventure did teach me one thing: it really, truly, honestly can get worse (hello, hail).  But, it also taught me that just when you think you’ve hit your limit, you can carry on, and be all the better for it.  We can’t always help the outcome, but you can control how you view and accept it.

Our nine miles on the AT was fabulous, and the three miles of trying weather only add to the tale.  And now, if you hear one of the Cokes mention that, “Nothing is harder than Swinging Dick Gap in a hailstorm!”…you’ll know it’s true! J

Love Without Condition

"A new command I give you: love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you must love one another." - John 13:34

I just love Holy Week.  Actually, I love the entire Lenten season.  Beginning with Ash Wednesday, and the weeks leading up to Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and finally Easter Sunday.  This is such a powerful time of reflection and appreciation upon what Jesus really did for all of mankind. 

After the incredibly powerful, spiritual, emotional and worshipful services we experienced this past Thursday and Friday, I’ve feel the Holy Spirit surrounding me more so than usual.  Maybe I’m more in tune to it now, but whatever He’s doing, it’s awesome.

I’ve spent a great deal of time contemplating and comprehending the love Jesus has for us.  Oh sure, we all “know” about His love; we know his ministry, his miracles, his mission…we can each tell the story of Easter; of the trial, the prison, the decision, the crucifixion.  But stopping to really consider what happened is something that has put into perspective just how much Jesus suffered, what he sacrificed, for us.

His love is beyond measure, beyond fathoming, beyond condition.  I have come to understand how this type of love should – better, must – be applied to our daily loves.

To love without condition…to care for people so much, to desire for their lives to be filled with joy and happiness, with well being and good health, that we’re willing to sacrifice in our own lives.  To put those people and their needs above our own.  To love the way Jesus loved us.

How many relationships in our lives have conditional love?  Probably more than we realize.  The manager who would love the employee more if they just got to work a little earlier.  The son who would love his dad just a bit more if he’d let him stay out past 11pm on a school night.  The mom who would love her daughter more if she’d just finish her masters degree.  The girl who would love her childhood friend greater if he’d just call more often.  The man who would love the homeless if they just took a shower.  The woman who would love the mentally ill if they just stayed out of sight. 

Jesus loves unconditionally – this goes for everyone.  Not just the desirable people, not just friends and family who are easy to get along with, not just kids who obey the rules and parents who are lenient.  Everyone.  Look at his ministry…Jesus hung out with thieves, murderers, lepers, tax collectors and prostitutes.  And he loved them.

People aren’t perfect.  We can be difficult, challenging, argumentative, strong willed and stubborn.  We can be mean, hateful and cruel.  We can be damaged mentally, emotionally and physically.  We are messy.  But we aren’t undeserving of love, and these “ailments” aren’t holding us back from giving love to others, from helping clean up the mess.

This Holy Week has give me the motivation to have what I’d like to think of as a New Year’s Resolution (maybe I’ll call it an “Easter Promise”) to work harder at loving unconditionally; helping where I can, understanding the challenges of others, and just working to meet people where they are, instead of putting conditions and expectations on them.  We could all use a little help; we could all use a little love.

After all, I’m fairly certain Jesus showed us in many ways – especially by giving the ultimate sacrifice – nothing cleans up a mess like love.  Happy Easter.

Simple Blessings

Early this evening, I was standing at the kitchen sinking washing some of the utensils I was using to prep dinner, staring absentmindedly out the window, thinking about what a beautiful Spring day it had been.  I looked out at the edge of the pool, and saw two of our cats – Blueberry and Patches – lounging lazily.  My oldest cat, Mai Tai, came bounding through the pet door, nearly tripping over my husband’s flip flops, and I burst into laughter at the sight of his startled face, and Patches’ concerned glance.  I then immediately stopped scrubbing, and said a small prayer of thanks for the blessings I was surrounded with.

I’d spent an hour or so chopping veggies for dinner (Cajun chicken pasta), singing along to Van Morrison, sipping on one of my favorite red wines, and enjoying the endless sunlight, thanks to the time change.  It was the type of lazy Saturday afternoon that rarely comes, but is much appreciated when it arrives.  I knew any minute, my husband would come walking through the door from work, and we’d get to enjoy a super yummy meal and each other’s company.

It was in that moment, my pause in scrubbing, that I felt the strong desire to thank God for that day, and the joy I’d felt in so many simple tasks: folding fresh laundry, sweeping up fallen blossoms from our three hanging Scarlett Begonias (which are still alive!), reading an old Stephen King book for a few hours.  I was happy to chop fresh veggies, and thankful I had them for our supper.  I was filled with laughter at the sight of our four cats running around like mad, chasing each other, lizards, and even our dog Maggie Mae, all over the back yard.  And I was at peace, watching the sky slowly turn to pink.

Sometimes I get so caught up in thanking God for the big things He does for us, that I can completely neglect thanking him for the small things I am blessed to have each and every day.  But when I stop and really focus on all the things I have to be thankful for…well, the list is seemingly endless. 

Today, I found joy in simple tasks.  I felt appreciation for the world we’ve been given, right down to the grasshopper that Frankie brought inside the house.  And my heart was filled to the brim with the love God has for us, and the realization of just how much He’d given us.

While I was surprised at the overwhelming happiness I felt, it was a wonderful reminder that I should be focusing on these “small” blessings each and every day.  God does bless us with big, incredible, amazing gifts…but there are plenty of simple things out there to tell Him thanks for as well.

You Shall Overcome

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding." - Proverbs 3:5

I have heard it said many times after someone has endured a difficult time in life that those challenges are, “what made them today.”  This is a statement that I wholeheartedly believe.  It is absolutely true, at least in my book, that overcoming obstacles, facing tragedy, withstanding trials, are things that will shape and mold us into people who are not only stronger in the face of adversity, but stronger in our faith.

But, as I’ve journeyed through life, I’ve found something else to be entirely true…that sometimes our circumstances arise by choice, and not by fate.  And sometimes those circumstances didn’t necessarily help you to become who you are…they’ve actually delayed you from becoming the person God intended you to be.

A while back, I briefly wrote about the car accident I was involved in, and how I came to the understanding that God truly had a plan for me.  And although I did express the anger I initially felt towards God for seemingly derailing the plan that I had for my life, what I failed to include was how far from God I allowed my own choices to take me.

Dealing with such a heavy blow did leave me angry and confused, not understanding why things didn’t just “fall into place” the way I’d had my heart set on.  Because I carried this anger and hurt, I found myself in a dark place.  For a brief while, I found myself making choices that today, as an adult, terrify me.  I fell in with the wrong crowd, and I let those people bring me down.  I had total disregard for how my actions and words may hurt my family, my friends, and myself.  I didn’t care if anyone worried about me; I was going to do what I wanted to, no matter what.  And while I felt happy (or the illusion of happiness) most of the time, when I was alone, I felt emptiness.  I’d spent all this time filling the void with the world, and I’d left no room for God.  Once I realized that the pain and hurt remained, I began to understand that the void I was feeling was the result of my poor choices…and I knew that I had to regain the personal relationship with God that I’d so carelessly tossed aside.

For a long time, a carried a fair amount of guilt and shame for some of those choices I’d made.  I had a difficult time believing God still loved and forgave me after what I’d put Him through.  And I felt an incredible sadness when I thought about the amount of time I’d missed spending with God because I’d had my own agenda.  He wanted better for me. 

Things happen that are out of our control…the death of a loved one, the loss of a friendship, a tragic accident, mental or physical abuse, addictions…and we can all relate in some way to many of these situations.  As Christians, we’re here to love and support each other during these times.  Sometimes we let these unforeseeable and uncontrollable circumstances get the best of us; we cope on our own, only to find that these choices lead us into another place of despair and anguish.

It isn’t God’s will to see you in pain, to cause suffering or hurt.  When we find ourselves in those dark moments, where turning to the world for relief instead of turning to God seems like the best option…stop.  Remember how much He loves and cares for you, that He has always been right by your side, and that He’s made sacrifices and suffered through difficult times (Jesus, anyone?) just as we are.  But it does get better, and you will overcome.  Keep God first and foremost, and lean on your Christian family…and everything else will (eventually) fall into place.  We are strong when we lean on God.

There are still moments where even now, ten years later, I’ll feel a twinge of anxiety…but those days are few and far between.  I have finally understood that with God, we really can overcome anything…from severe tragedy to our own simple, stupid mistakes.

And maybe things won’t turn out the way you’d hoped or planned…but just remember, God’s plan for your life is so much more than you could have imagined.

Giving Grace

"Let us consider how to spur one another on toward love and good deeds." - Hebrews 10:24

Today was one of those days.  Having a career in insurance guarantees that, out of all your working days during the year, a handful of them are going to be difficult.  Any agent will tell you, especially now, that insurance is one of those things folks are no longer considering to be protection or peace of mind, but rather a “necessary evil.”  Rates are going up, carriers are nonrenewing, and the State of Florida has no idea what to do about any of it a fair amount of the time…and we aren’t even in hurricane season yet.

Some clients have quite the penchant for getting under my skin…they complain, yell, swear, belittle and berate for what seems like an endless five minutes, hardly allowing you to get an word in edgewise (even though, last time I checked, I’m the one with the license – not them).  Difficult might not even be strong enough an adjective for some of these folks…

So, what I’ve challenged myself to do for quite some time now is to suck it up, show the love, and pray for my clients.

Why?  Well, first of all, because God commanded us to.  But secondly, it’s because I’ve realized that I’m not sure what they have going on at the other end of that phone line,.  They could be suffering from a terminal illness, going through a difficult divorce, losing their home, or getting ready to face the “empty nest” as their last child prepares to head off for college.  They could also be really upset with their Sweet Sixteen bracket.  Regardless, they sound like they could use someone on their side today, and I need to give them a little grace.

Since I’ve started praying for clients, I have found that more often than not, things will fall into place.  Oh sure, there’s always those few who will never be satisfied and will always be difficult, and I’ve learned to accept that and laugh it off (when I can).  But for the most part, extending the olive branch, or silently giving them the grace they may need, has made the day so much better, both for me and them.

If I think about my day, a full 24 hours, I could say I run into a lot of jerks.  And while many are strangers (like bad drivers on Del Prado trying to squeeze into the Dunkin’ Donuts parking lot) some of my “jerks” are folks I’m close with.  Co-workers, associates, clients, friends, even family.  But now, instead of wasting energy to criticize and condemn, I’m trying to redirect that, and focus on prayer instead, because the same “client theory” holds true – we don’t always know what our loved ones are going through.

So just because a co-worker snapped at you this morning, or a close friend hasn’t returned your last four calls, or your aunt let it slip that she liked your hair better before you cut it, doesn’t mean they are undeserving of love, grace and compassion.  And if you can’t find the words to express that to them directly, let God know.

Taking just a few minutes to talk with God and ask Him to help someone out with their struggles, to take whatever is burdening them and lighten the load, or just to fill their heart and mind with the hope and joy that can be found in Him, can be just the thing someone needs.  And…you can accomplish this without even having to hear about forgetting to change the coffee filter, taking out the trash, or calling your sister on her birthday!

Truth is, you could be Jesus in the flesh for someone today, whether you realize it or not.  And we could all use a little prayer. J

Placing Importance on What's Important

Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. - Matthew 22:37-38

In the winter of 2005, not too long after Evan and I were married, we began one of the most exciting times in a young couple’s life together…looking for our own house. We had been renting in the Cape, and really loved the area, and decided it was time to put our roots down.

I spent hours scouring the MLS listings and real estate websites; we did many a “drive by” all over town, until we finally found something we really loved…and it was perfect! The house had three bedrooms and two bathrooms, a two car garage, a large fenced backyard, and a beautiful swimming pool. The lanai even had a pet door. It was as if the house was practically begging us to move in. And, the house was only one block away from our church...so this surely had to be a God thing! I was filled with hope, optimism, and visions of curtains and color swatches dancing in my head.

We began working with David, our mortgage broker, and he crunched the numbers. At such a young age, I was unfamiliar with the process of getting pre-approved for a loan; I just assumed you didn’t buy the diamond until afteryou knew you were in love, right?

At first David thought it would be nearly impossible to finance what we wanted…we had little to put down, and had only been living in the area a couple years – our careers weren’t exactly what banks considered to be established. Finally, after almost a week, he came back to us with what we’d needed before our search even began – APPROVAL! But, there was a catch…in order to finance the house, he’d need to do some “creative” things with the loan. Those creative things, which would allow us to buy the house, would also make our mortgage payment over $2,400! Nearly double our rent payment!

Could we afford it? Barely. It was doable, if we cut out some other luxuries (you know, like bread and eggs). Was it the best decision? Well, obviously not. Evan, who is quite the optimist, but also a great realist, managed to get my head out of the clouds. After many agonizing days and nights of running the budget numbers, thinking of ways to save, even considering adding part-time jobs to our already busy lives, we agreed that this was not, in fact, the house of our dreams.

To be honest, I was devastated. I felt that we’d worked hard, and deserved a home of our own to really begin our lives in. I couldn’t understand why God would burst my bubble. I spent many days after “losing”the house in quite a funk; sometimes crying, sometimes yelling, but most of the time I was simply confused.

After some time, I realized that I had put so much time and energy on getting this particular house, that I’d completely lost sight of what was truly important. We had a roof over our heads; we had food in the refrigerator, careers that paid the bills, and a happy life. Buying this house was not really that important, in hindsight. God had already blessed us tremendously, and here I was, complaining about not having more. This was the reality check I needed to understand that God was priority one in my life, not finding a house.

I’ve heard it said that, “He who dies with the most toys, wins”…but I’ve also heard that he who dies with the most toys does just that – dies. There is no great reward for accumulating “stuff.” God doesn’t really care if your house is 1,200 square feet, or 12,000 square feet. And while it’s nice to have new things, to take vacations, to splurge every once in a while, we shouldn’t let the things that we don’t have become the “ones that got away” in our minds. God provides for us; he give us exactly what we need, at exactly the right time. We just don’t always realize it. He wants you to be happy, and He wants to bless you, but He also wants you to keep Him first in your life and give thanks for what you do have. His timing, and His gifts, are always perfect.

So, what about His perfect timing in blessings? Well, a little over a year later, at a time when we weren’t even looking for a house, I came across a listing in one of those real estate magazines Publix has on display in their lobby. And wouldn’t you know…I found “the one.” It was three bedrooms, two baths, a one car garage, large fenced yard, a beautiful pool…and a pet door on the lanai.

I was extremely hesitant about beginning the process again, but this time, we did it right. And that all-important first step? No, not pre-approval on the loan…pre-approval from the Big Guy. We spent a few days praying, asking for His guidance, and felt that this was the right time. We put in an offer, which was accepted within days. Obtaining a loan was a breeze –and not $2,400 a month! Five years later, I still thank God each and every day for blessing us with this home, and the roots we’ve begun. He made it happen.

Prayer Pause

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all cirucumstances...for this is God's will through Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

When Evan and I first moved to Cape Coral years ago, we rented a little house in a small neighborhood not too far from where we live today.  At the time, I was still based in our agency’s corporate office in Fort Myers.  Traveling across the bridge every morning proved to be a challenge, especially if I didn’t leave by 7:15am.  Sitting through the light at Del Prado and the Parkway two or three times was almost a given if I had fallen jut ten precious minutes behind schedule.

We had grown close with nearly all our neighbors not long after moving in (save for a few Yankees that I could never quite see eye to eye with).  One of our neighbors was a sweet old man, who split his time between bagging groceries at Publix, and volunteering at the Salvation Army’s thrift store just down the street.  He was quiet, kept to himself mostly, and always walked to work.  He was the type who would smile and wave when you passed, but not really stop to converse.  Because our house was so near the entrance to the neighborhood, we did see him nearly every day.

One morning, during season, I found myself running late for work – again.  After rushing around the house to quickly feed the cats, walk Maggie Mae (who was just a puppy at the time), turn on the dishwasher, and find my shoes, I grabbed my bag and bolted for the door.  I hurled my belongings into the back seat of our truck, hopped into the driver’s seat (uttering many four letter words at the time) cranked the engine and threw that sucker into reverse, ready to barrel down the driveway and into rush hour traffic.  This was not how I’d envisioned my day starting…my head was full of mean thoughts, anticipating the awful drive in and the disapproving looks from my supervisor, who would most certainly be waiting at my cubicle.  I also knew that starting my day on such a sour note would surely keep me on this negative path.  The day hadn’t even begun, and I was already thinking of crawling back in bed.

Halfway down the driveway, I was forced to slam on brakes, as our quiet and kind (and extremely slow) neighbor was making his way down the street, headed to the thrift store for his day of volunteering.  I glared at him in the rear view mirror, and continued spouting out a few more choice words.  Of all mornings, this is the one he decides to walk on MY side of the street?!

He made it to the center of our driveway, and stopped.  Then, he bowed his head, and brought his folded hands to his face…and he prayed.  His prayer lasted ten or fifteen seconds at best.  He concluded, made the sign of the cross, and continued on his way, never turning his head in my direction.

Witnessing this small act felt like a sucker punch to the gut.  Why was I in such a hurry?  Why was I placing so much importance on such menial things?  Turning into Speed Racer wasn’t going to clear the traffic; swearing at the coffee pot wasn’t going to make my day any easier.  What was the point of getting so upset over such silly things, completely beyond my control?

I’ll never know what my old neighbor stopped to pray for.  Maybe he saw my frantic face, and thought I could use some extra prayers that day.  Maybe he feared for his life when he saw me spin the tires just backing out of the driveway.  Or maybe he was just stopping to thank God for the beautiful day.  Either way, his small act changed my entire direction that day.

I was reminded that in all circumstances, good or bad, I need to take the time to be with God, to talk to Him, and thank Him for all He’s given me.  And this isn’t just in the major good and bad times…we’re talking every day.  Thanking him for BOGO Ranch dressing, for a day where the humidity never even comes close to reaching 100%, for a few quiet minutes alone…and even for the blessing of a career that may require getting up a little bit earlier in the morning to make it on time. 

In every situation, God is with you; right beside you, holding your hand, steering you in the right direction – if we just stop to pay attention.  Take a prayer pause in your busy day and have a chat with the Big Guy; thank him for your blessings, in all circumstances.