Monday, October 03, 2005
Friday nights
Friday night I found myself in conversation with a friend about testimonies. Having shared personal testimonies at different times here and abroad I've had a fair amount of practice, and it's actually one of my favorite things to teach. One of the stories I shared on Friday pertained to God's attention to the details of life. He's a good father whose desire is to bless me, surprising me in some areas and content to do good and allow me to not even notice in others.
The timing here couldn't have been better, as this weekend since was full of problems and inconveniences in place of the blessings and normalcy of which I'd just spoken. My car broke down out of town irreparably, all the options that should be available to get us back to Seattle weren't available that day, and I haven't yet moved anything I need to live to my new house. The internet connection supporting my web/email server went down; I haven't been able to go figure out why. Much of my family had trouble finding my house when coming to visit on Sunday, and weren't necessarily happy about it, my new couch brought up from Yelm won't go up the stairs, my sister and her boyfriend ended up on the complete wrong side of town stuck in traffic on their way to the restaurant for dinner, we waited what seemed eternally to return a u-haul trailer and then missed the street to the restaurant twice, though I knew exactly where it was. We all finally made it to our dinner destination to celebrate my sister's birthday, only to walk around unable to find the entrance. Appropriately, it turned out, as the restaurant had closed the week prior.
That was a longer description than I intended, as the list is not the purpose of what I want to convey. My purpose here is to discuss the timing of these events, some bigger than others but everything wanting to compound together. Through these circumstances I was stretched, tested but given opportunities and able to choose my reaction to the details. My initial desire several times was to choose my right to anger, annoyance or self-pity. In quick time, though (those around me can hopefully acknowledge), I decided that the circumstances were as only circumstances, and momentary, and of less importance than my reaction to them. And much of my joy came from remembering the testimony we'd discussed a few nights previous.
I was given the opportunity due to being stranded to spend time with a couple of people that I wouldn't have otherwise, catching up and sharing stories. There was an extended chance to talk with my friend-and-new-neighbor, and I was forced to rest much of Saturday, where I had planned to be running, packing, cleaning and moving. And even bad stuff wasn't so bad -- my car died across from a parking lot, another friend was driving along behind and helped to push it through the intersection on a green light and my dad's mechanic friend set up for the recycling and disposal. The house unit downstairs has my couch for now, where there wasn't one before, and we still had dinner and a birthday celebration with my family. I don't have an immediate need for a car now that I'm living and working in Seattle, and said downstairs friend works in Issaquah and we can coordinate to bring what I need until I can arrange for my move.
Friday night's preface to the weekend's chapter was appropriate in multiple ways. Not only could I remember God's blessings and react positively while in discouraging circumstances, but the bad times brought new opportunities and were themselves even slightly cushioned. Now I'm not saying I want it frequently, but living through a little turmoil has given me fresh vigor for the next Friday night.
The timing here couldn't have been better, as this weekend since was full of problems and inconveniences in place of the blessings and normalcy of which I'd just spoken. My car broke down out of town irreparably, all the options that should be available to get us back to Seattle weren't available that day, and I haven't yet moved anything I need to live to my new house. The internet connection supporting my web/email server went down; I haven't been able to go figure out why. Much of my family had trouble finding my house when coming to visit on Sunday, and weren't necessarily happy about it, my new couch brought up from Yelm won't go up the stairs, my sister and her boyfriend ended up on the complete wrong side of town stuck in traffic on their way to the restaurant for dinner, we waited what seemed eternally to return a u-haul trailer and then missed the street to the restaurant twice, though I knew exactly where it was. We all finally made it to our dinner destination to celebrate my sister's birthday, only to walk around unable to find the entrance. Appropriately, it turned out, as the restaurant had closed the week prior.
That was a longer description than I intended, as the list is not the purpose of what I want to convey. My purpose here is to discuss the timing of these events, some bigger than others but everything wanting to compound together. Through these circumstances I was stretched, tested but given opportunities and able to choose my reaction to the details. My initial desire several times was to choose my right to anger, annoyance or self-pity. In quick time, though (those around me can hopefully acknowledge), I decided that the circumstances were as only circumstances, and momentary, and of less importance than my reaction to them. And much of my joy came from remembering the testimony we'd discussed a few nights previous.
I was given the opportunity due to being stranded to spend time with a couple of people that I wouldn't have otherwise, catching up and sharing stories. There was an extended chance to talk with my friend-and-new-neighbor, and I was forced to rest much of Saturday, where I had planned to be running, packing, cleaning and moving. And even bad stuff wasn't so bad -- my car died across from a parking lot, another friend was driving along behind and helped to push it through the intersection on a green light and my dad's mechanic friend set up for the recycling and disposal. The house unit downstairs has my couch for now, where there wasn't one before, and we still had dinner and a birthday celebration with my family. I don't have an immediate need for a car now that I'm living and working in Seattle, and said downstairs friend works in Issaquah and we can coordinate to bring what I need until I can arrange for my move.
Friday night's preface to the weekend's chapter was appropriate in multiple ways. Not only could I remember God's blessings and react positively while in discouraging circumstances, but the bad times brought new opportunities and were themselves even slightly cushioned. Now I'm not saying I want it frequently, but living through a little turmoil has given me fresh vigor for the next Friday night.
# posted by kevin @ 2:40 PM 
