Thursday, July 9, 2020

An Eternal Optimist Struggles


In Jan Karon's In This Mountain, Timothy's first bishop tells him...

"Timothy, stop this nonsense of preparing

for the worst 

and spend your time preparing for the best!"


Like Timothy, I am "seldom able to follow it" but as an eternal optimist I believe in its wisdom.  

I wonder, if In This Mountain took place during a Pandemic, would Timothy have had a chance in Halifax? 

On a beautiful July morning I can almost forget there is danger lurking. How could such a normal summer morning hold anything other than good things? 

And then I turn on the news and it all comes back, the danger that is obviously lurking everywhere. I turn off the news and get busy with my day to keep the monster of worry at bay.

As long as I lose myself in what is around me, meals to prepare, laundry to be done, pets to take care of, watching a movie with RH that we both enjoy (there are some!), reading a good take-to-bed book at night, I can honestly say that life is good in my little pocket of the world--if my big family are all okay, that's a given requirement, but then it always has been.

There still come those 2 a.m. thoughts occasionally--you know, those thoughts that overwhelm the mind like the Dementors in Harry Potter that suck every good thing from your mind. A few Bible verses quoted at them usually makes them vanish.

And now while I've been writing this post here I've received texts from a daughter-in-law giving me lots of encouragement and healthy advice. I'm making a list and checking it twice! And you know what holiday that makes me think of. 

I'm going to take the bishop's advice and prepare for the best but also use common sense and try to prevent the worse, as much as I am capable of doing. 

When I sat down to compose this post I was going to stop with Halifax. The rest just kind of came from nowhere so please forgive me for any incoherent ramblings.

I wonder if I have struck any chords with you? Am I the only one with these thoughts on a beautiful July day?




  

17 comments:

  1. I experience it, too, Dewena. Every day. The devil is working overtime. Praying for our country because it sure needs it right now. (((Hugs))) for you.

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    1. Thank you for those hugs, Kim! Those are the healthiest kind right now and very much appreciated!

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  2. These thoughts come and go with me all the time, too. I don't watch the news on TV at all. Haven't in many years. It's too over-sensationalized and depressing. As someone who already has a lot of anxiety, the news only fuels it.

    xoxo

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    1. That makes sense. RH is a cable news hound so it's on a lot here. I do a good job of shutting out news on FB, scrolling through quickly, and at home have a book in front of me or try to tune it out. Or have dueling tv sets, my Netflix or YouTube trying to drown out his!

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  3. Dear Dewena ~ yes I get attacked by the evil one trying to destroy my faith and bring me down. God is our strength when we are weak and He is the Victor in this story. Love you and thank you for visiting my blog and your kind and encouraging comments. ~ FlowerLady

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    1. I need to remember that, Lorraine. You always inspire me. Love to you!

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  4. I've never known your thoughts to be incoherent. but if they are I love them!
    they always leave me feeling better than when I came. and that I think is a particular gift. like Gladys Taber.
    I just enjoy the way BOTH of you think. as in...
    in spite of everything that's taking place... life is full of treasures and things worthwhile! a happy wagging of little tails! a perfect dessert! a great book!
    so much to enjoy.
    not to be missed because of 'the news' or the incessant HEAT!
    bring on the delicious chilled meringue and fresh strawberries! I could imbibe every single night for dinner and never every tire of them! LOL.
    sending you love on this sweltering July night. xoxo

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    1. Thank you so much, dear friend. I've been reading dear Gladys this week, her Still Cove book. She taught us a lot, didn't she? But I think a refresher course of Gladys 101 is timely right now! Love to you, Tam!

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  5. When I wake up in the morning, regardless of the season, I fling open the shutters, as the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and bread toasting, fills the house, while I start to mentally plan my day, here in this tiny, Cretan village.

    In these scary, chaotic times of coronavirus, I feel blessed that I live in a roomy house, in a pretty, secluded village, in the mountains, where I am able to walk in fresh, clean air, at times not seeing a soul for a few hours, especially during siesta.

    Pre-Covid-19, though, I sometimes longed for, and missed, the hustle and bustle of city life, having close access to shops, restaurants, cafes and supermarkets. Sitting in one of the town's many squares, sipping on cappuccino, while catching up with a friend, as busy passersby continued on their designated paths, to me, felt like a luxury and was a nice change from my less hectic routine in the countryside.

    Pastoral peace and quiet, the miraculous beauty of nature, the rising and setting of the sun, delicious meals simmering on the stove, attending to my summer flowers, staying in touch with friends and family, swims in the salty sea, sweet, juicy seasonal fruit and organic veggies from our garden, spending quality time with Liberty...all these things PREVENT me from surrendering to the frightening realities which our planet is currently facing. Of course, I stay updated, sometimes only skimming headlines in my online newspapers, other times REreading sentences in articles to confirm that I did not MISread the shocking facts stated in them! Small doses of the daily news, is key to keeping afloat, and not drowning, in all the doom and gloom.

    So, in answer to your question, my dear friend, no, you are definitely not the only one with these thoughts on a beautiful (but wildly windy, here, in the Med), July day!

    Stay safe and healthy...and curious!

    Happy weekend,
    Poppy

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    1. How I wish you could have included the picture on Instagram of the view from your kitchen window, Poppy, to fit perfectly with your comment! And your sentence beginning with Pastoral peace--wow, I should write that down because they are such lovely ways to keep the gremlins away.

      Last night when I went to bed I determined seriously to focus on those things in my own life that Phillippiana 4:8 tells us to think on during these next months. And to do it more consistently! Happy weekend to you too, dear friend!

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  6. Please...

    Don't turn on the so-called-news.

    It's sole purpose, is to scare the living daylights out of us. They change the statistics they quote, to make the most horrible, seem the now-true-ones. It is ..... Sad.... That so many people, swallow it.

    But of course, All-That-Is-Going-On has to invade our lives, whether we want it or not. The Horrors are hard to not 'get a whiff of,' now and then.

    And then, we have to spend precious time, getting our thoughts, and view point, and mood....Back under control again. -sigh-

    Our own circle, is where we live. It is the only place, we can impact. Those who live in it, with us, are the most important people in the world. And we ourselves are too! If we allow ourselves, to be made sick, in any way, by All Of It, who will care for those important people, who share our circle, with us????

    I think that last line, is the most important thought.... "At the end of the day" as the old saying goes...

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    1. Watching the news certainly can weaken us for the real struggles facing each one of us. Before March changed our world so drastically I always ate my breakfast in a sunny window facing the bird feeder and pond outside, a biography propped up before me and a few pages read while I ate. But in March I abandoned that for a table facing the television with all its news and news conferences and local mayor's updates. It was a foolish thing to do but I couldn't seem to help myself, then as well as throughout the day. The last few weeks I've gone back to eating facing the window and looking out over the herbs and flowers that our daughter planted for us in May. Back to keeping the television off during the morning and back to reading a biography, gentle novels saved for bedtime relaxing reading. And it has helped. But I think what has helped too has been writing here, after more than a month's absence, and finding out that other women are facing the same thing as I am and hearing everyone's good advice. I treasure it all. Thank you for yours!

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  7. I absolutely know what you feel when you say you can almost imagine all is well with the world until you turn on the news.

    I live in a small mountain town and you would not know that things are going on that sound so dreadful in other places. I get so confused by the disinformation and misinformation going on all over the internet that I just keep choosing for my own peace. And..it works! Like you, as long as i know my family is okay then I'm okay. I choose peace is my mantra. I'm living my best life right now - solitude, nature, time to do all the things I wanted to do when I worked at home as a medical transcriber (back in the day when we were called cottage workers because the internet wasn't around and people had to go into offices)... and raising the kids. Now my bedroom is my sanctuary, ,surrounded my books, my art supplies,, my CD's (music) and life is good except for the noisy birds who wake me up with their demands ...and I never have to cook, lol. My husband when he retired found out he loves to cook so I just sit around or work in the yard and my dinner is made for me. Life is good;) I love to come read your blog when you post . It's always a pleasure.

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    1. Sandy, when I read your "I'm living my best life right now..." I realized that I am too. Except for not getting to have family stay for visits and family parties, I am in the place I love and time to do the things I love--well, not as much as I'd like because there are still all those basics that must get done each day. But you are so right and I'm very glad that you have time in retirement for the things you love to do. My sister has a husband like yours who took over the cooking when he retired! Not sure I'd want that myself but mine is welcome to doing all the vacuuming and mopping if he wants to! Thank you for your thoughts on this subject and have a nice weekend there in the mountains!

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    2. I get that - about you and cooking. My mom and my sister love to cook. My sister wouldn't probably give that up to her husband if he wanted to cook. I have never enjoyed it and definitely would rather clean toilets or do yard work, lol. Anyway - hope your week ahead is wonderfully lived in peace and doing what you love!

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  8. Dear Sister - how encouraging to read your post & know I am not alone on this crazy pandemic ride. Your thoughts are shared by me. It is difficult to get up each day and repeat yesterday! As I look out my study window this morning covered with condensation from last night’s rain,
    I feel like my view; unclear & foggy. After a short night of little sleep, I simply pray as always, Dear God, get me through this day. The same as days previously & may I sleep better tonight. Please keep all of my family virus free! Amen.

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    1. Dearest Deb, I feel I am there with you in your study where you meet with God each day, and it helps so much on this morning when I woke up at midnight and couldn't get back to sleep until 4 a.m. to know that my sister can understand, having gone through the same thing herself. Hopefully tonight will bring better rest since that's the pattern it usually takes. It's really hard, isn't it, to function well the day after a night like ours? I have HVAC people coming soon so will plug away at what has to be done--so different from yesterday that was a pleasure to bustle around the house after a good night's sleep.

      Your prayers and mine go alike each morning but at least we know that our precious parents are away from all this and safe in their heavenly home. And our youngest son just got a negative report on his COVID-19 test after self-isolating for 8 days waiting for it after a co-worker tested positive. That was a huge relief for all of us! Stay well, Deb, love to you!

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