What Will We Do in the Dark?

The other day when the temps soared above 100 degrees, I was putting things into the ‘garage’ of the RV and thinking about the hot sun and how we may gripe about the heat but what would WE do if there were three days of darkness as prophesied by some saints and the Blessed Mother. The type of darkness one might see as an aftermath of a huge volcano, how would people cope? How would we handle the change of seasons that would come, or the drastic changes in the world after a huge earthquake? I was thinking about the fact that if they did not have faith and trust in God, would they be able to handle these catastrophes?

Of course the Holy Spirit is listening in as He always does to my ramblings, and pops in the thought—‘how will you handle the darkness, when you are barely handling the ‘shadows’ that come and go in your life?” OUCH! (Did you know that the Holy Spirit is a ‘nail hitter too?')

I knew what He meant—allergies have had me coughing, hoarse, throat sore to where I got antibiotics to stop that cycle. My mental and spiritual state of mind—well let us just say, mumbling, grumbling, sighs and down in the dumps fatigue have been a daily occurrence in my life. Everyone knows that it isn’t easy being WELL---- when you are not WELL. (All is well with my soul song, remember?)

So the Holy Spirit helped me to change my tune to a “new song” and this is how He did it. When we wait upon the Lord, you WILL renew your strength. Taking care of folks who are really sick, and dying helps a lot, and because I am a nurse, God blesses me with the opportunities to do so.

There are three patients in my life right now who are close to death, and one in particular has chosen to stay stuck in the angry stage along with the fear of unknown that are parts of the stages of death and dying. As I visited with her and let the Holy Spirit guide my words to her questions, the one bit of wisdom that came in was—“take only today and live it, and really spend that precious time with your loved ones.’ We cannot live in the past with ‘could ofs’ would ofs’ or worry about what may come—for then the present, the time now, will be lost as we fail to see the gifts there.”

I told that person what a gift they were to me today, and got that look of puzzlement as they wonder how. Then I explained how I needed to be reminded of the ‘day—the present- and the need to just enjoy the moment, no matter what is going on. I told her I was not in her shoes so was unable to really say, I understand what she felt—but I was walking in my own struggles and heaviness too. We talked about being so human as we walk on our spiritual journey. We have to truly except the fact that body was not meant to last forever, and we have to say goodbye to the body before the spirit can begin the forever life. She is a Baptist, but even though we hear of how wonderful heaven is—what is it really like? She also was dealing with guilt and fear of ‘will I make it.’ There is an easy answer to give any mom. "No matter what your child does, can you ever stop loving them?" "NO," she said. "Well neither can God stop loving you." (I needed to be reminded of that too—for guilt is a gift that keeps on giving?)

There were two readings this weekend that confirm this message on death and realizing that we must resolutely and freely go to our “Jerusalem’s walk.” St. Paul in 1 Timothy, spoke of his need to depart and then Jesus headed to Jerusalem knowing what was to come.

And we, do we willing and without hesitation face ‘the whatevers’ that comes in our life that will mature, strengthen, enlighten, and build up our trust and faith? Illness, struggles, disappointments, waiting, irritations, oh those daily crosses. As Father said this morning, "Discipleship is not a call to a vocation—it is our daily way of life."

Lord help us to remember that simple little prayer and may we pray it a thousand times each day. “MY JESUS I TRUST IN YOU,” as we walk our walk with you.

Love to all and please remember I need prayers and so do you, so keep them going.