November 20, 2024
Here we are, about to begin
the last third of November. Up here in my neck of the woods, the leaves have
been falling at a steady clip, and it’s almost time to begin “the great yard
cleanup”, hopefully completing the task before the snow flies.
Of course, one can only do the
best that one can do. No one—and I mean no one—can accurately predict
the weather. With any kind of absolute certainty. Condolences to TV weather
people everywhere.
Looking across the way, I see
that most of the neighborhood maple trees have been denuded of their brown, withered
foliage. Our gardens are still full of dead and dying plants. And not a one of
us is wanting to make use of the outdoor patio set we have in out back yard.
Within the next couple of
weeks, with the help of our daughter, one grandson, and two
great-grandchildren, we hope to accomplish all that needs doing. The operative
word in that sentence is, of course, hope.
But I have lots of that, so I’m
not worried.
Inside, I’m working at reassessing
and reassigning my time. I am not an American, I’m Canadian. But that doesn’t
mean that I am not a participant, emotionally at least, in the highs and lows
experienced by my neighbors to the south. What happens in the halls of
government in your country does affect my country, as we share a continent—and a
hemisphere. And even if it didn’t, I have reams of good friends who proudly
wave the Stars and Stripes.
It is because of my many
friends that I care about the environment in which they live. Many of my
prayers, nightly, are on behalf of friends I know and those not yet met.
Therefore, I’ve decided that I
need to pare back the amount of time I spend each day taking in news and
opinions and listening to pundits – from every quarter. It only makes sense
that if one is suffering the ill effects of overindulgence, then one must
restrict said indulgence and bring it to heel.
This is a wise decision for
me, especially, since everything else I do—from reading to writing to doing
household chores—has slowed down in the last few years. What I used to be able
to accomplish in a couple of hours now takes most of the day! The solution for
me is to pare down my own expectations of my own abilities, and to give myself
more time on the clock to do what needs doing.
I am grateful that the one
thing I don’t need to do is develop a more positive attitude. My positivity knows
few bounds. But as it is my positivity, it’s probably best that I direct
that incredible force a bit closer to home. I need to pour it toward me and
mine, and what is both good and possible.
That doesn’t mean that I won’t
still dream dreams of a better me and a better world. It doesn’t mean I won’t
still by a lottery ticket here or there.
What it does mean is that I need
to remember what I’ve always known, especially as it pertains to prayers. The
first is that I can only ask God to change me, and not anyone else. And the
second is even more basic than that.
I do believe that God answers
every prayer. But I need to remember that He will give me one of three answers:
Yes, no, or not yet.
Love,
Morgan
http://www.bookstrand.com/morgan-ashbury
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