Day Eleven - Jan 11, 2019

This day feels so emotionally packed for me! I’m currently sitting at an internet kiosk in Newark airport surrounded by people, but traveling alone. It has to be at least twenty plus years since I flew solo... and today the clock resets itself. 

Goodbyes are always hard for me... especially airport goodbyes. And I certainly have experienced my fair share of them in my lifetime. 

It certainly didn’t help my day when it started with what feels like the becoming of a daily nightmare of interacting with Sears company. I felt pressed down and was reduced to tears - which is ever so slightly ridiculous in the scheme of what really matters in life. When I finally came to the acute understanding that I was NOT going to find a fair resolution - I took my crying self to brave the cold for my daily dog trek. Alone. 

I just couldn’t get past the belittling manner the customer service agent used to reduce me to tears. I tried the usually fail-proof method of trying to focus on good things. Nope. Then listing things to be grateful for... a little improvement. People in much more difficult circumstances who would gladly trade my “troubles” for their huge pain. A little better...

Finally, I just plain old managed to convince myself that my tears would freeze if I didn’t stop and that seemed to do the trick. 

Only to find myself presented with a more pressing issue. Nellie did her business by the fence and I swiftly tucked her business away in the baggies provided. Only to discover trace amounts of now-frozen poop on my newly manicured fingers! Really!! No wipes! Puddles were frozen!! And there was no hope of keeping the hand out of my gloves! I was forced to do the unthinkable... poopy hand into the glove for the remainder of the walk. Really?!? 

At that point I was forced to find something better than my current reality to focus my attention on for the next twenty minutes back to the van. 

I kept thinking about the book of Matthew 16:33, “In this world, you will have trouble! But take heart, I have overcome the word!”

After reading the book of Ruth in the Message Translation the other night to the kids - I couldn’t help thinking that some modern “Dog Park Translation” might sound something like: “In this world (when you own a dog) you will at some point be covered in poop... but take heart - help is on the way!”

There’s no way I’m trying to be disrespectful to the word of God - but there’s a ton of practical truth in this!! 

I’m heading out right now to visit my aunt in England... “in this world, you will have trouble...”. We are not exempt from it. Trouble comes... washing machines break, service techs are rude, dogs poop, and ... loved ones pass away. It’s just true. 

So how do we pass through our days without losing hope!? How do we not burn up and explode from the pain of loss and disappointment? 

How do we live in a world where trouble WILL come and navigate the storms? 

I think we first settle once and for all... that trouble will come. We find the place where we can set our feet, our beliefs, our hopes and they are secure. We place our dreams, hopes and security there. Once and for all... and then the storms arrive. 

But those decisions, those anchors, those steady grounding forces will hold us firmly. We are not overcome when we have planted ourselves deeply and firmly in That which is secure. 

So come what may... It's time to say goodbye. Time to board. Time to pass through the storm of saying goodbye to someone we love... and deep within me, I am at peace ...

... even while I’m still not sure my hands really feel clean after multiple washings! 

Much love!