Steve Martin
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?
Today… Today… Today?
This morning was cardiologist appointment at 8:15. Get up early and get ready. Head to the car and find that the gear shift will move but the car will not go into gear. Here I sit moving the gear lever back and forth. Finally after a few moments it goes into reverse. I gently back out of the driveway and sit in the middle of the street trying to get the gear into drive. Again, finally it goes into gear.
When I arrive at the Doctor’s office I check to see if I turn the car off and back on will it go into gear. Nope, doesn’t go into gear. I get out and go in to make my appointment with my cardiologist.
I register at the desk and then… and then… and then the lights start flashing, a beeping noise starts sounding. The receptionist tells everyone to leave because this is a fire drill. Imagine the logic of this in the office seeing heart patients. All these patients have to leave by way of stairs and walk out into the parking lot. (I go out into the hallway but refuse to make the whole trip to the parking lot.) After this short drill out of breath patients begin to return to the waiting room. One elderly man even needs a wheel chair to get back to the waiting room.
I get back to see the doctor. He is pleased that my cholesterol has better numbers… closer to where they are supposed to be. But… but… but… he has done a new blood test and found that my cholesterol “particles” are too small. That is what they do when a heart patient finally gets cholesterol under control, they find a new wrinkle in the story. Now I have to be put on meds to make my particles bigger. Really, small particles???
My car did go into gear and I got home. And then… and then… and then… well the day isn’t over yet.
We have all had days that started out with a glitch and added more glitches along the way. Some times the glitches were on the same level and the accumulation of all of them made the day really bad. Other days the glitches seemed more severe with each new appearance. But all had the same affect… they left us with a “Horrible, Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” or something very similar.
Even though my day started with a few glitches, I am a blessed person. I cannot complain. I know that God is with me and holds me close every moment of the day. For me to complain would be to slap God in the face. Every time I fall low enough to complain, I am reminded of all the times I look back and see God’s finger prints on my life:
Premature baby weighing 3 pounds – rushed to Baptist Hospital to survive.
Doctors told my mother to abort me. She refused.
Survived two car wrecks
Knocked out in baseball, football and wrecks and probably no really bad affects
Survived Vietnam with only small wounds – perhaps little or no PTSD
Have a wife who has loved and cared for me for 49 years (miracle)
Have good and healthy son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren.
Survived (19 years ) heart attack and by-pass surgery
Health is not the best but it could be a lot worse
I read the newspaper and watch the evening news and celebrate the people like the young Mt. St. Joseph college freshman basketball player, Lauren Hill with the terminal brain tumor who got to play (now) in two games and scores in both. Both colleges moved the game up and supported her to make sure she lived long enough to play. I see ladies of courage like her whose days are very bad compared to mine, and I am ashamed that I have ever complained. How can we complain when we see a person with great courage in the face of such devastating possibilities.
Dear Lord, help me not to complain and celebrate my own little pity party. Rather, help me to know that you are with me in all my trials and tribulations… holding me ever so close. Help me to celebrate the really courageous people who seem to be so strong, so positive, so very close to you and accepting of what may be coming their way. These people are truly inspirational to us all. Be with us all the day long, in and through Jesus. Amen.
Prayers for the people of Ferguson as they receive the findings of the grand jury later on today.
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The Journey 