"the power is back on"

An "ah ha" moment as we continue to deal with the effects of Tropical Storm Irene:

We had been without power for about 48 hours. The frozen and refrigerated food had been placed in the cooler. We had plenty of candles and batteries for the radio. However, being without power creates a sense of anxiety. How long? Do we have enough water? etc.

A neighbor and I happened to be on the main road as the power trucks (from Canada!) were allowed up the emergency lane of the washed out road going to town. When we saw those trucks we were cheering like they were the French Liberation tanks in WWII. In about 2 hours the word spread throughout the neigborhood like wildfire-"the power is on---the power is on!"

A bit later I made a connection with those words and recovery. When we begin to recognize that recovery is a gift from God, "the power is back on." The power of God has been with us all along-even in our addiction. We just never turned on the light switch. We sat there in the darkness as though all was lost, as though we had no power. The power is there-the power to make the recovery choices, the recovery decisions. But we must flip the switch to be open to the flow,to let God's power illuminate our lives.

We know that because He has made us that promise. He has promised to "give us a life more than we can imagine."

Is your "power back on?" How do you know that?
Has your life begun to be "more than you can imagine?" Isn't that wonderful?

Give thanks.
Blessings-Penny

Irene

We are 5 days post Tropical Storm Irene. We live in Vermont. A picture of the washed out road 500 yards from our house made the front page of the New York Times. We remain "trapped on the mountain." We are safe. Our house and property sustained very little damage. The destruction of homes, properties and roads in our area is monumental.

We have a beautiful babbling brook outside out kitchen window. It comes down the Green Mountains, forms little waterfalls as it crosses our yard, passes under the road and further down the mountain joins with other brooks, creeks and streams. Most days it is a delight to listen to and to watch. Sunday it became a raging river. The culvert that takes it under the road could not handle the amount of water from the torrential rains. There were several anxious hours as we watched it rise. We were helpless and almost afraid to speak out loud about "what if it keeps rising." Finally the storm eased and we watched as the water slowly receded.

In the next blogs I will share some of the simple and incredible human connections that continue to take place. But for now:

What are your thoughts and prayers when faced with potential disasters? Those disasters can be personal or national or natural.
Do you prepare or take a attitude of "oh it won't come this way" or "it won't be as bad as they predict."
In your spiritual life where does God fit in all of it? I feel Him in the grace filled neighbors and friends who show their care for us in all of this.

Blessings-Penny

Anger III

I wish I had titled these last blogs "forgiveness" rather than anger. Forgiveness surely is the goal.

Another consideration that Desmond Tutu says is part of the process of forgiveness is to develop empathy for the person with whom you are angry. In that process we consider what might have happened to the person who has hurt us. What happened in their past that shaped them, their response to us, their interaction with us? We may never know what happened but we can be assured that something or someone has caused them to be who they are with their own anxieties,fears and beliefs.

Are you willing to consider what happened to the person with whom you are angry?
Do you know specifically what happened? Can you consider that they were shaped by something that hurt them and they are reacting to you in a way that feels protective to them?

The Amish say forgiveness is work that never ends.

Blessings-Penny

Forgiveness-II

"Forgiveness is not forgetting, nor is it overlooking or excusing. In fact forgiveness is just the opposite. Although we may forgive someone, we still hold them acoountable for his or her behavior." p. 162-"Broken by Addiction, Blessed by God." Again this material is from Desmond Tutu's book "No Future Without Forgiveness."

As I think about the issue about which I am working through my anger, I am reassured to hear from Tutu that I needn't feel I must forget this issue or overlook it or excuse it. The person with whom I am angry shared the issue with others in a way that feels like a betrayal of trust. She could have come to me to sort it through. If we could not have sorted it out, she could have told me she was going to take it to others. The atmosphere feels unsafe. She is accountable for her behavior. I am to forgive AND I hold her accountable.

Jesus says I must forgive 70 times 7-I'm working on that!

Blessings-Penny

forgiveness

I have been very angry with someone in my life for several weeks. I am working on my response and know I must work through the anger for my own peace. My working through it takes me back to my book and the chapter on anger. So for the next few posts I want to focus on the model of forgiveness of Desmond Tutu that is referred to in Chapter 6.

" 'Forgive and forget' is what we are often encouraged to do. But that is not possible-at least the forget part. In fact, we need to remember." p. 180

In discussing the issue and circumstances involved with my anger a couple of people have encouraged me to forget it. They've said things like "You need to move on" or "Maybe we should do a mediation." Both of these responses seem to diminish my feeling. I need to remember because the incident involved someone in power communicating an incident to others in power in an untruthful and demeaning manner. The hurt this has caused felt purposeful. I need to remember so I am careful about what I share with this person both personally and professionally. It is important I acknowledge the pain and not let it fester.

What hurt or pain has been pushed down in your life?
Does the anger set you up for relapse?
Are you willing to begin exploring the issue? It really is important.

Blessings-Penny

selfish actions

This is from a reflection by Walter Wangerin, Jr. "There are no private choices. There is no such thing as 'your own thing.' All selfish action damages those in love with you."


Who are the people in love with you?
How are they damaged if you choose to drink or drug?

Blessings-Penny

prayer for you

This came from a friend and I pass to you with love and blessings:

Dear God,
This is my friend whom I love and this is my prayer for her. Help her live her life to the fullest. Please cause her to excel above her expectations. Help her shine in the darkest of places where it seems impossible to love. Protect her at all times, lift her up when she needs You the most, and let her know when she walks with You, she will always be safe.

Amen!