God’s Addressbook Includes Hope

My favorite line in Thorton Wilder’s Our Town is delivered by a George Gibbs talking about an address he’d seen on an envelope.

“I never told you about that letter Jane Crofut got from her minister when she was sick.

He wrote Jane a letter and on the envelope the address was like this: It said,

Jane Crofut,

the Crofut Farm,

Grover’s Corners;

Sutton County;

New Hampshire;

United States of America;

continent of North America;

Western Hemisphere;

the Earth;

the Solar System;

The Universe;

the mind of God

– that’s what it said on the envelope. And the postman brought it just the same.” Thornton Wilder – ‘Our Town

Sometimes in the dark of the night, I think I’m the only one not sleeping. And then I remember that I have an address in God’s mind. In this vast universe, He knows right where I am. It makes me smile. It gives me hope.

So when  I receive another piece of bad news, or worries are tightening around my throat,  I sometimes forget to look up.

Good thing the Creator of Everything knows just where to find me.

He’s got my address. and he delivers,  just the same.

(Yes, you star-gazing experts will recognize the picture as Andromeda Galaxy. He’s knows everyone’s address there, too!)

Life in the Basement or Life On the Roof?

Photo by Mumbley Joe

The Good ol’ Basement

I hate to admit that I sometimes find myself in the basement—but I do. Things don’t meet my expectations and I pace  the mental darkness of my emotional cellar. When I’m there, I notice that my favorite activity is to bring others to the basement also. You see, it’s easier to fling words of judgment, criticism, and evaluation than to actually do something.

Then there’s the roof….

Aaaaah….on those days I’m giving a shout out to passers-by, inviting them to stop and talk a while, urging them to come on up, and let their troubles roll off the edges.

I saw some Roof People today. They had their lights shining, signaling others to come on up.

• the gentleman at the gym who looks for the quietest person there and makes sure to say hello.
• the lady who let me go in front of her at the check-out line.
• a hilarious Valentine card from Superman that  says “I’m thinkin’ of ya”

Where there’s Light, There’s Hope

Maybe you have basement days, too. So here’s what I’ve learned:

• Get some rest (weariness is basement bait)
• Eat healthy, be good to yourself  (because you deserve it!)
• Look up. There’s always a  light guiding you to the rooftop—where you’ll be safe.

Let Your Light So Shine Among Men.

Where’s the Light in the Dark Days Ahead?

Aaaaah February. If there’s a month that I feel like hibernating…it’s February. The big holidays are over. Orion’s riding silently through the night sky. Spring is still asleep underground.

So tonight I’ll explore where I see light in the days ahead:

1. At the mall. Believe it or not, stores were crammed this weekend.  People carried sacks, so someone must be buying something…just not as much.  (Do we really need so much stuff?)
2. Within businesses. I just interviewed a business owner for an article and he told me that he had made quite a few internal changes in the way he priced their product and did business. Formerly, he charged top-retail, and turned people away if they didn’t like his prices.  Now he’s negotiating with both his customers and his suppliers. (So, now he’s running his business more efficiently.)
3. Within communities. While large urban newpapers are suffering from the diminishing national advertising, small community papers are doing pretty well. Many of them lost their national advertising several years ago and developed other local sources.  (It’s a good feeling to be true to your community)
4. Within a Sea of Strangers. Our local newspaper relates the story of a woman who tried to attend the inauguration in D.C. Several catastrophes occured including loosing her purse and her plane ticket. She went on to tell of the numerous stangers who gave her money, gave her rides and helped her get home. (And her purse was found and sent to her–with it’s contents!!! Someone saw it sitting at the bus stop where she’d left it and turned it in)

It reminds me that the world is really full of good people, there’s just a few  that make it seem dark and frightening.  Then I wonder about my February moodiness and why don’t I “help out more ?”

Probably because I’m wrapped up with my own life, my own worries, my own dark nights.

Focusing on my own problems keeps me from seeing what others need.

There is no hope inside of worry. Maybe I should make February the Month of “Stepping OUT” of my hibernation. It only takes a little  giving to put more hope in the world…doesn’t it?

Wanna join me?  Let your light shine!

More Ideas When You Can’t Sleep

Okay, we agreed that instead of staring at a dark ceiling or kicking the sheets off the end of the bed when you can’t sleep, we’d get up and do something creative. Something constructive.

Thanks digipicsphotography for your Bright Ideas!

Here’s a great idea. Just reach over and grab your lighted knitting needles.  It makes me think there’s magic in the making of those garments. You textile lovers will have to check out digipicsphotography.

Like you all, this lady loves to knit.

Since I’m yarn challenged, I’ll have to find a lighted pen and write.

What’s Your Favorite Quote of Hope?

Words of Light: It’s hard for the gang members of worry to linger in the well lit places of my mind. Whether you use the Bible, inspirational quotes, or Dave Barry, fill your thoughts with hope.

My favorite is: Who can add a single hour to his life by worrying? (Matt 6:27).

But I think Charlie Brown nailed it when he said, “I’ve developed a new philosophy…I only dread one day at a time.” (Charles Shultz).