Miracles in the Mundane

Lisa and I try to walk five miles as many days as possible around our busy schedules. I tell my husband these long walks are for my health, which is partially true of course. But the main reason I love these jaunts is because Lisa and I spend the time whining, laughing, commiserating, plotting, and solving world issues. It's a safe time to share insights with a trusted friend. And Lisa always inspires me with her keen insights.

Lisa's View

 Just before Christmas we decided to hike Badger Mountain. (Now, before we sound too cool, Badger Mountain is only 1579 feet in elevation and we usually take the long way around to avoid the more strenuous climb straight up). The air was crisp and it had snowed the day before so we had to dodge ice patches along the way. When we arrived at the summit, the view was spectacular. We could see the vineyards and orchards that dominate the Columbia Basin landscape and the Columbia River sparkling in the distance. Lisa's eye was drawn to a particular portion of the view...a spot where the land was flat and snow had collected in the rows of farmland. She wanted a picture but her phone camera wasn't functioning so I was trying to capture the coveted image for her. After about 20 tries (the Karr family rounds up...it was really only 3) I asked Lisa why she wanted this picture so badly. She explained, "Everyone finds beauty in the new green of Spring and the autumnal hues of Fall. But the dog days of summer and frozen grays of winter? Not so much." She continued, "I'm realizing that I need to find beauty in the winter seasons of my spirit. This view offers me that perspective and I want to remember it." I got the picture and sent it to her.

Roof Damage

Frozen fog, dreary drizzles and intermittent 50 mile an hour winds have interrupted our walks for much of January but I've been meditating on finding the beauty in the gray. Last week, after 3 days of winds with gusts up to 70 miles an hour, I asked my husband Robert to have Lisa's husband, a contractor, check our roof because it looked like we had lost some shingles.Robert hadn't gotten around to it but I didn't give it much thought. A knock on the door Saturday roused me from my comfy chair. When I answered the door, a man with a work truck parked on the street offered me his card. He was a roofing contractor.  "I was driving through the neighborhood and I see that you may have some roof damage. I have all  the materials with me and I can fix it for you." Now I'm not paranoid, but I typically do not trust door-to-door anyone. "I have a contractor but thank you", I replied. He pointed to his card stating that he was licensed and bonded. "No thanks", I said. He was kind but persistent. "I can go up on the roof, take pictures if there's any damage, and then you can decide". I thought about it and since I didn't know when my contractor friend would have time to look and the day was drizzly, gray and wet, I decided to let him do the inspection. (While he was on the roof, I checked on his credentials....again, I'm not paranoid, just not very trusting. He was a legitimate businessman). When he showed me the pictures, my jaw dropped. Almost the entire roof cap had blown off leaving our attic space completely exposed to the elements. Grateful that it had not snowed or rained and no other damage had occurred, I consented to the repair. As I was reflecting on the serendipitous nature of the event, I realized that on a mundane Saturday, God had provided a miracle. Had that man decided to walk away at my first decline....well I shudder to think about the thousands of dollars worth of damage our home could have sustained.

Robert channeling the Blues Brothers
after cataract surgery.

Robert is only 48 years old, but treatment for his Multiple Sclerosis has taken its toll on his eyesight. For months he's had to stand two feet from our big screen television just to see the score of the football game. He hasn't been able to read the small numbers on the orders he's supposed to fill at work resulting in some errors. He's described his sight as gray as he's been forced to view life through the cobwebs of cataracts.  It's been tough on him. Two days ago I took him to the eye clinic for cataract surgery. I was amazed to find that the clinic is a well-oiled machine conducting scores of cataract surgeries every day.  I was permitted to watch the procedure which was at the same time brutal and awe inspiring. Within the span of 10 short minutes, on a mundane Tuesday, sight was restored to the blind. Robert says it's like living the Wizard of Oz.....his once gray scenery is suddenly bursting with color. He can't get enough of just looking. What a miracle!

During these long, cold, and gray winter days I am learning that re-visiting the regrets of the past or worrying about the future robs me of recognizing the miracles that occur in the mundane of daily life. I am wasting my time and energy on the past and future instead of living in and enjoying the here and now. Matthew 6:34 reads, "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Troubles like damaged roofs and blurred vision. But Lisa was right....as we journey through the troubles and joys of each seemingly mundane day, whether it's Spring or Winter, we have to learn to look for beauty. And when we really look, God reveals miracles big and small in the mundane. And for that reason, today is enough.

p.s. If you want to read about other amazing insights from Lisa, visit www.betteroffread.com

I'm sitting at my computer determined to post new thoughts about my word for 2014....Enough. I've already deleted 4 attempts and have just thrown up my hands and said to myself, "I'm not a good enough writer to be a blogger". Enough. What does it mean to be "good enough"?  What standards are there that define what good enough looks like for blogging? Why do I get so bogged down? As I've been mulling over "enough" during the holidays, I'm beginning to recognize (with the help of my family) that at many levels I am a perfectionist. I place standards and expectations on myself (and others) that have little basis in reality. So what if my blog isn't perfect? What does that even mean? After a particularly impactful message by Pastor Monte Ingersoll at church last Sunday,  I realize that in order for me to embrace 2014, there are some things I need to leave in 2013. Worries, wounds, and wrongs (Feel free to check out my friend's blog at www.betteroffread.com for an overview). Why? Because worry exhausts energy, exaggerates the problem and in the end doesn't solve anything. Remembering wounds inflicted by others prevents me from relating to my now because unforgiveness keeps me locked in the past. Finally, carrying guilt and regret over not being good enough, smart enough, skinny enough, loving enough, busy enough, etc disconnects me from God and ignores His grace. These hindrances keep me focused on perfectionism to combat negative feelings and thoughts. They keep me "entangled" and prevent me from running my race effectively (Hebrews 12: 1).  So, in this first week of 2014, God's grace is enough (2 Cor. 12:9) and His power will be made perfect in my weaknesses. I don't have to be in control because He is. When thoughts creep in and my perfectionism tempts me to worry or regret, my mantra will be "God's love and grace are enough and in Him, so am I". Happy New Year!

Enough in 2014

My one word for 2014 is Enough.

 How much is enough? When is enough enough whether positive (I have enough money to pay my bills) or negative  (enough! I have got to lose weight!)? Do I accomplish enough each day? Am I enough for my spouse? Do I tell my family how much I adore them enough? Will my retirement fund be enough? Do I have enough time left on this earth? Is God big enough? Is there enough wine? Suddenly the word "enough" is a little scary.  I went to the Oneword365 website to find my tribe...others who want to explore "enough"... and so far I am a tribe of one. Do I have enough courage and tenacity to continue? I have never been much into journaling so I may not post enough. But I will explore enough in 2014. Join me?