Lights

Today as I walked up to the long term care home, I saw John sitting by the front windows.  Unless he is out for dialysis, that is generally where I can find him.  He waved, and I waved back. We then gathered with others for Bible study and conversation.  Wanda, who seldom speaks and when she does it is just above a whisper, surprised me when she began to sing "Jesus Loves Me," in a beautiful soft gospel style.  Most of us could not resist joining in. A glorious sound emerged with Wanda in the lead. Afterwards, John added, "I have finally come to understand that what really matters is how I think about things. We here are survivors and we need to keep reminding ourselves of that. As it says in Matthew 5:16, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works."

  

There are days when I worry that maybe I am just not a very good minister.  Today, I was reminded it has never been about me.  Blessed be.

I Worried

 Mary Oliver

I worried a lot.  Will the garden grow, will the rivers

flow in the right direction, will the earth turn

as it was taught, and if not how shall

I correct it?

Was I right, was I wrong, will I be forgiven,

can I do better?

Will I ever be able to sing, even the sparrows

can do it and I am, well,

hopeless.

Is my eyesight fading or am I just imagining it,

am I going to get rheumatism,

lockjaw, dementia?

Finally I saw that worrying had come to nothing.

And gave it up.  And took my old body

and went out into the morning,

and sang.