A Clean House...Not

Today has been a blur of household chores and dreaded phone calls, as most Mondays are. I make out the proverbial "to-do list" on Sunday, and then start digging in with all the things I want to accomplish in the coming week. Things like washing the bedding, sorting and organizing Dean's recliner "area", cleaning the bird cage, and scrubbing behind the kitchen sink. But these things are on top of the everyday, basic tasks of washing dishes, clothes, cooking meals, and emptying trash cans.

Any more, my shortness of breath never allows me to finish a "to-do list". I have learned to be content with a house that is never sparkling clean everywhere. But that has fleeting bright spots scattered about that I can be proud of and that gives it a look of orderliness that tricks you into thinking it's clean under the surface.

In a way, this mirrors my spiritual life. I will never have a complete and virtuous character that I would desire. But God has covered me with his perfect robe of righteousness. And with His touch of love, I can be perceived as having a form of Christianity that perhaps someone would wish to emulate.

How wonderful it will be to shed these mortal bodies someday and put on our glorious, immortal robes. Then I will be truly clean everywhere, even under the surface.

On a Wave

The caregiver resource fair that I went to tonight was wonderful. It was a chance to get out of the house by myself, but still tied to the thing most familiar to me and close to my heart. Caregiving.

The speaker they provided for us spoke on using spirituality to overcome obstacles. He mentioned normal obstacles in our life that require normal coping. And then there are tsunami moments that totally consume us and call for extraordinary coping abilities. For these, our spirituality is stretched to the limit, but still provides an anchor that we can hold onto to get us through the storm.

Twelve years after Dean's tsunami tractor accident, it still feels like we're riding the wave of that tsunami though. And I'm sure there are a lot of caregivers who also feel like they're on one wild surfing ride.

Is it possible to ride out a tsunami? Certainly not on our own. With practice, we may become pretty skilled at surfing though. But we are nothing without our Board. Keep that Board under your feet and you will survive. Balance is everything. So enjoy the ride.