What I Want

Some days are easier than others, aren't they? No matter what stage of life you are in, no matter what the circumstances, most people have good days and bad days. Even in the midst of crisis there can be a good day or maybe a good hour. And even on bad days, if we ask ourselves, "Where is God in this?" we can find an answer...eventually.

I have been in my new apartment for a month. It has been relaxing, at times and crazy at times. I am unpacked and have hung most of my pictures on the walls. I finally feel as if I have reached the place where I can work on renewal and refreshment and eventually a new start. Ghana took a lot out of me. I didn't realize that at first. During the last 14-18 months there, I was sick once a month. It was my new normal. I wasn't sick enough to be in bed, but, something wasn't quite right. Now I know most of my problems were sinus related. This past year, those issues have been addressed and hopefully resolved. 

This past weekend, I drove to Carolina Beach to visit my niece and her husband. It was a GREAT visit, once I got there. Let's just say that Interstate 40 is not my favorite road. I haven't been up to Erie to visit family and friends since last November, although some have  come to visit me. I feel that I should drive up to western PA before the snow falls and I feel guilty because I don't want to. I feel as if I should, but I don't want to. Why? That question is not real easy to answer. I'd love to see my family and friends before the snow comes. In the past year, I wanted to take care of myself. I wanted to develop some healthier habits, physically and spiritually. And, the emotional roller coaster of being back in the US after being in Ghana for so long. It is a HUGE drain on a person.

 There are parts of life in general that I don't like. For example, driving all over God's creation. I like staying home. I don't like driving. I drove all over because I had to for my jobs. That trip to NC? I was almost a basket case when I arrived. I took the "Old Lady Going for a Sunday Afternoon Drive" route on the way back home. That was much more relaxing. I wanted to do something special for myself for my retirement. It didn't happen because the challenges of life happened instead. I wanted to go to The Martha Inn to celebrate my birthday and Christmas and to the Barter Theater to see all four of their Christmas plays. That didn't happen. The challenges of life got in the way again.Ghana took its toll on me. and I am finally in a place where I don'have to even think about moving. I can take time to recover. I loved it there. I love it here. I want to see my friends and family there. I want to see my friends and family here. But, I need to take care of myself first. I'm tired. I'm weary. 

So, today starts a new month. I have a person who will "coach" me on my physical health and keep me accountable, too. I'm planning on going to The Martha Inn and the Barter Theater to celebrate my birthday and Christmas. It will be the farthest I will drive for months. I used to follow a daily Scripture writing plan but haven't done in for several months or more. I started back today. The theme for the month is, "God is My Comforter." There was only one verse to write today: 1 Peter 5:10. The second half of that verse says, "After you have suffered a little while, He will restore, support and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm foundation." THAT'S what I want!

Monday Musings - Water

One of the many things that I am grateful for is when I turn on the hot water faucet, hot water comes out. Imagine that! Something so simple is so amazing! In Ghana I had hot water during hot season or in the middle of the afternoon of a sunny day during the rest of the year. I was blessed. The house in which I lived had a poly tank in which to store water. Water from the local water company did not flow every day. So, if you didn’t have a poly tank, two or three days of the week you didn’t have running water in your house, you had to keep water in big barrels or in every bucket you owned. And, water pressure? I won’t even talk about that. I guess mine was better than most since Peace Corps volunteers always told me they loved my shower. Of course, they didn’t have running water where they were living. They had to get their water from the bore hole (pump it), carry it home and take a bucket bath. 

Such a simple thing, water is. Most of Americans take water for granted. It’s as if we have a right to running water. But, if we want it, there’s a responsibility, too. That water bill always finds its way to you. A lot of communities have fluoride added to their water. And, the miracle is that the water that comes out of our faucets is safe to drink. Yes, I know there are exceptions to this, but for the most part, you can roll out of bed in the morning and stumble into the bathroom, turn on the water faucet and use that water to brush your teeth. You can actually drink the water that comes out of the water spout wherever you turn on the water in your home. And, it’s safe to drink! Yet, hundreds of thousands of people choose to buy bottled water. After living in Ghana, buying bottled water is no longer a choice for me. 

In Ghana, I was very particular about my water. I bought a very good water filter. I filtered all the water I used for drinking, cooking and even brushing my teeth. Yes, it was annoying at times. But, I never had typhoid. And I didn't have water borne illnesses that others had. I sanitized my bottles in between uses and replaced them once in a while, probably not as often as I should have. None of my Ghanaian friends had water filters. They were either drinking the local water or buying water in 500 ml sachets. Few had the income to use on bottled water. The sachets were inexpensive. And, the water in them was not always safe to drink. So, I'm grateful for tap water, even though I don't drink just plain water as much as I should.

Jesus said He would give us living water. I imagine that living water as coming from Him, full of peace and amazing things, especially miracles of the heart. He said if we drank of this living water, we would never be thirsty again, it becomes a fresh bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life. I imagine if I had eternal life, I wouldn't get thirsty. I don't have eternal life yet, not in this world. I get thirsty both physically and spiritually. I know what and Who can quench my thirst. Do you?