Monday: Weekend Recap

How was your weekend? What did you learn/find/discover over the weekend? What did you celebrate? How did you relax and remember to breathe?

Our weekend was busy followed by some waiting. Waiting is a challenge, isn't it? Our friend Jeff says we have a tendency to wish our lives away. We spend so much time wishing and waiting for some event we lose a part of our lives. Waiting is contrary to our societal and cultural personality.

This is part of NowHere. We have said in the past our home/homestead/business is named NowHere to reflect the call from Brennan Manning to live in the NOW and the HERE rather than the THEN and the THERE.

Over the past several weeks we have been waiting for Mark to have a knee replacement surgery (his second). There has been a lot of activity on his part to make sure that everything is as organized as possible for me to be able to step back in to doing the work in caring for animals, garden, home, business and HIM. I am still somewhat in recovery mode from Achilles tendon surgery back in April and have been working hard to strengthen my body in order to be able to do the physical work of the homestead. By the middle of last week he had accomplished the high-priority items, and started focusing on preparing himself for surgery; body, mind and soul. By Sunday afternoon we were both ready for surgery to be over with!

Yet at the same time, we were both aware of the need to live in the moment. Saturday was our market day and interacting with customers and our fellow vendor friends was a joy and a delight. Knowing that we will be home-bound for a season, we enjoyed an evening meal out at one of our favorite hang-outs.

Sunday was worship at our home church. So many dear friends made sure to visit with us to reassure us of their love, concern, and prayers. After worship, our Rector, Father Gabe, made time for a quiet conversation to check on us, anoint Mark, and pray for both of us. This was time with him we cherish!

We spent time resting in the afternoon. We played with the cats and enjoyed the laughter they bring to our life. We set eggs in the incubator. We listened to Max McLean read the daily Scripture reading to us. We listened to good music and watched some of our favorite music videos (World on Fire by For King and Country gets me every time!). We went to bed and pretended like we could sleep.

Did we spend time wishing the day was over and we were past surgery? Of course. But we were also conscious that the work of the moment was to trust that while we are NOT in control, God is, and to rest in that truth.

Joint replacements are not over when the surgeon places the final suture/staple. There are weeks and months of hard work ahead for both of us. Mark's work will be in therapy and in finding contentment in waiting. My work will be caring for Mark, our homestead, and our business. He says the hardest part for him last time was standing at the window and watching me mow the property. For me, it is shoveling poop in August heat. Our prayer is that we will have the physical and emotional stamina to do the work each of us has to do each day, find contentment in this season, and live in gratitude.

Because after all, we have so very much!

May we redeem the time we are given in a way that brings honor and glory to the One who gave us time and life.