Faith to Take It Easier

November 26, 2019

Happy Thanksgiving, Beloved!
    
          For whatever happiness you are grateful, I wish you all the more of it!  I am grateful for a sturdy house with a window onto my porch, where a house finch is picking through the dried-up basil twigs.  She just flew off empty-beaked, not finding what she wants, it seems.  I wonder if she has company coming soon.
          I never nest more vigorously than when friends are coming over.  I clean and purge and rearrange, while my husband tries his best to be patient as I (helpfully) boss him around.
It’s hard for me to remember and believe guests aren’t coming to check my carpet and my cabinet fronts.  They probably won’t even notice that I organized the bookshelf in my bedroom or wiped down the inside of my fridge.  All that busywork feeds my pride (or insecurity) to the same degree it wears me out and makes me crabby.
          So I’m trying this year to be better, partly because I’ve been a little sickly lately and have had no choice but to take it easier.  I’m treating it as an act of faith, faith in the goodness of other people.  Trusting what they tell me, that they are grateful we are together to visit, play and feast.  So I’ve assembled games, puzzles and the stuff for a small feast.
          I suppose it’s really not possible to be simultaneously grateful for and crabby about the same gift, be it a holiday or a life.  Every minute of every day is a feast from which to draw more life, if I am present to it.  The house finch on my flowerpot, about her daily chores, is no less busy than I am.  I’m glad I didn’t miss her visit.
          In my quiet room tapping on these keys, I pray the week is good to people everywhere.  I pray it is good to you and yours.

~ peace & prayers, 
pastor annette