Tuesday Morning, February 14, 2012

February 14, 2012

Beloved,
    “You feelin’ puny?” my Grandma Baker would ask if one of us was shy around her.  “She’s puny today,” my mother would tell the teacher if we were sick enough to stay home but not to go to the doctor, unless puny went on for more than a day or two.  All of which is to say my column is a day late due to a bout of puny.  
    But all is well today.  Birds are chirping, rehearsing for April concerts.  It’s 8:07 am and the dogs are getting a late start on their first morning nap.  Except for their sighs the house is quiet, lovely quiet. This quiet prompts the heart and mind to go quiet too.  Heartbeat and breath become audible, along with bubbly belly noises.  Skin on skin sounds papery.  Deeper still, the soundtrack of thoughts forever sliding across my mental screen; to do lists, old hurts, new joys, nagging worries - and sometimes praise, gratitude, anticipation of good things.  Imagine!  Only humans have the capacity to imagine or to think about thinking, to choose to think differently.  We can choose to listen to other sounds, other voices, God’s voice.
    Today’s Psalm is 116.  My favorite verse is 7, “Be at rest once more my heart, for the Lord has showered gifts upon you.”  Be at rest ~ that’s bible talk for “Sweetheart, don’t stress out about this.” Whatever the problem, whatever the disappointment, the most important truths remain true; the Lord has showered gifts upon you. . .”  Some gifts are mortal, some material.  But the very best are spiritual and enternal; divine presence, unending grace, infallible joy, redemption.  Whatever else happens, whatever is lost ~ these remain, ready to be chosen.  The Lord’s blessings are only a prayer and an attitude adjustment away.  May joyful peace be yours today.  ~pastor annette