Wednesday Wonder

The best laid plans…

First, a belated Happy Canada Day to everyone. We do live in a wonderful country and I, for one, am grateful for that.

This has inspired me for my first Wednesday Wonder as I return to work. I am grateful for the time I had off which was vacation and study leave. I first relaxed and then began to get ready for the fall. Unfortunately, the hoped for date of surgery during my time off did not happen. I am now back to work until further notice. My hope had been to take the time off and have the surgery so that there was as little disruption to our life here at Kingsview as possible. Now we will have to deal with the call when it comes. However, I will be using July to get as much ready for the fall as possible so that there will be less disruption to the life and work of Kingsview when I have to be away again. During the month of July, since we already had Robert Bennett booked to provide three of the services, I will be in the pulpit for July 6^th and then in my office Monday to Friday each week doing fall planning and preparation. I am looking forward to that time as my creative ideas keep coming and I want to explore the possibilities they are suggesting to me. Be prepared. One never knows what might come out of my reading, writing and thinking.

More about gratitude. I like the phrase ‘an attitude of gratitude,’ however, while doing some reading (okay lots of reading, as that is usually what I like to do when I have time off) I came across this interesting sentence from Brene Brown about gratitude: “An attitude is a way of thinking; a practice is a way of doing, trying, failing, and trying again.” She suggests we need a gratitude practice not just an attitude. I wholeheartedly agree.

Gratitude is one of those things that takes intention. I don’t know about you, but my intentions don’t always get followed through on. Making a practice of gratitude sounds like a good idea. I try to take a few moments each day to write down at least three things for which I am grateful. Some days, I get busy and forget. But most days I remember to do it. Those days are better. Just, better. Something about my focus or mindset, especially if the gratitude is done at the beginning of the day, shifts and makes things better.

Maybe a practice of gratitude allows us to reframe the things that bring us down, or make us frustrated, or to simply see things with a brighter view. Perhaps an example will help. My recent time off is a great one for me. I had been so frustrated about not getting my surgery, until I looked back at my gratitude journal. I was grateful for the time to deal with some personal things. I was grateful that I was well enough to assist my neighbours when the husband/dad had a heart attack and the wife/mom was struggling with the anxiety that the near loss of him caused. She could call me any time and I could be available. That wouldn’t have been possible if I was convalescing. I was grateful to be well when there was a need for extra ‘Damon care’ that Granny was available to do because she wasn’t nursing a new incision. And finally, recovering from surgery during that heatwave, when our air conditioning wasn’t working and had to be replaced would not have been much fun. I was grateful I wasn’t doing it. The air conditioner was replaced. You guessed it, the day the heatwave finally broke.

While I may still be frustrated about waiting, I am also grateful that I could be there for others when they needed me, simply because I was still waiting. Gratitude can help show us the silver lining to the clouds in our lives. It has calmed my mind, body and spirit over the last few weeks. It has allowed me to simply be in the moment and accept the chance to enjoy what has been happening in my life.

I was tired when I started my vacation. I was able to rest. I rested and was able to relax. I relaxed and am now feeling rejuvenated. Simply can’t ask more than that of time away from one’s work.

My gratitude extends to all of you. Thank you for allowing me the time away. For picking up and helping out, for thinking, praying and supporting me while I wait.

The one thing my gratitude journal consistently shows: I am grateful for having been called to Kingsview. Now, let’s get back to work together while we can. For our gratitude at being part of this community of faith, this church family, will allow us to extend ourselves out into the community and world. All will know that we are grateful to be part of God’s family and to be able to gather with others in the family to support and encourage one another.