The past week has been quite chaotic in our home. Back in October, our water heater decided to spring a leak overnight, and we had water all over the kitchen floor by morning. Immediate mitigation ensued, and further investigation showed water damage in the pantry, two closets, and my office, as well as the garage. We were able to purchase and have a new tankless water heater installed, but it has taken this long for us to get to the top of the contractor’s list for repairs to the various walls, floorboards, my office flooring, a kitchen cabinet, etc.
As a friend and colleague would say, “First-world problems.”
Still, such problems are definitely disruptive. We dismantled the guest bed back in October, and I set up my desk in that space, so I’ve been able to continue to work. Of course, I had two editing projects to work on last week as various workers made noise, asked questions, and needed us to move things and make decisions. I am certainly grateful for the quality of their work. I am also thankful that we have house insurance to cover the cost of the repairs.
As I type this, the work is done except for the flooring and baseboards in my office. Theoretically, that will be installed as you are reading this on Monday. Hopefully, I will be back in my office shortly thereafter. It will take rather longer to put everything back in place and for me to feel “at home” and settled.
We had another significant disruption to our lives a month ago. Henry’s seemingly annual bout with pneumonia landed him in the emergency room because his heart got involved this time. Fortunately, he was allowed to go home after a very long day there, but his recovery from the pneumonia is slower this year and still ongoing.
Once again, I find myself very grateful for good insurance—a first-world benefit!
This is certainly not how I expected to enter the new year. However, at this point in my life, I try not to make assumptions about what each year will bring. I plan my workflow and make my commitments, then life upends our days.
Disruption is endemic, be it by illness (COVID-19 is on the rise again this winter, though it’s no longer making headlines), landslides, flood, war, job loss, and other unforeseen disasters. Even positive events can be disruptive, as the birth of a first child turns the lives of parents upside down.
Perhaps it would be wiser to recognize that disruption is part of life. There’s a saying that has kept me company throughout my adulthood: The only constant is change. Perhaps a good mantra for this year and all years would be to welcome whatever comes.
What is your relationship with disruption? When has your carefully choreographed life recently been upended? How did you respond, and what were the results? What did you learn about yourself in the process?
What an appropriate theme for me today! I’m at TMC with a broken arm I suffered yesterday in a fall in a parking lot. I have been so fortunate that I’ve never broken a bone in my 77 years of living until now. And I feel so blessed to be in a country where medical care is instantly available. I can’t help thinking of all the suffering in Gaza right now and wishing they had all the advantages that we do! This is certainly an example of learning to be thankful for our many blessings.
Oh, Aston, it certainly does seem as if Spirit invited me to write this for you! My prayers are with you in this period of disruption, and I join in your prayers for the people of Gaza, as well as Ukraine and those other places that don’t make our news…. Thanks be to God you have medical care available and are in good hands. May your healing be swift, smooth, and complete, and your pondering of this stage in your journey be blessed….
Peace,
Shirin
Thanks Shirin. This brings to mind the relationship between disruption, expectation and disappointment, something I struggle with often. Most recently: my expectation of returning to Tucson in November for knee replacements – which I know will be a disruption to my life ( and pain – which will be a good thing!) and the disappointment associated with doctor appointments that have not gone as I expected. At this point there is no definite path ahead, just lots of waiting – and trusting that all things work together for good. Boy is that hard sometimes! I have been irritable, annoyed and impatient. It’s time to turn that around and get a broader view! Your words helped.
Hope Henry feels better, stronger soon.
You’re welcome, Joyce, and my prayers are with you in the waiting, the frustration, the liminal space…I’m glad that my reflection helped you to re-vision what’s happening for you at this point. I am grateful also for your hopes for Henry.
Peace,
Shirin
Shirin
I’m a day late because my ongoing disruption is being in a dentist chair. I broke a tooth off in September but it was mid-November before the VA approved treatments. And yesterday I sat there again for two hours having a wonderful tiny woman dentist save another tooth. She’s basically redoing all my old crowns, bridges and new root canals to save my aging teeth. I’m tremendously grateful for her expertise and dedication besides being fun. Also, that all this is covered by my VA insurance. I come home to nap in a warm house and comfortable couch.
I’m feeling abundantly blessed, grateful and humbled that I have what I do. More time to spend reading/reflecting on my Bible readings. Praying for the various wars-the Israeli conflict has caused a breakdown between my son-in-law and his family; Ukraine because I personally know artists in Kiev and all the immigrants flooding in from Venezuela/Cental America.
I work to roll with the flow of my life based on each day instead of premade plans anymore. I’m trying to grow and let God tell me what needs to be done instead of the other way around! And He keeps me busy!
Prayers for you and Henry
Oh, Nila, thank you for sharing about both your ongoing disruption and the blessings you have and gratefulness you’re feeling. My prayers are with you for support of your aging teeth and for grace in your broader family with the challenges that war and other conflicts bring. I’m grateful for your prayers for us.
Peace,
Shirin
Shirin, I hope you’re installed in your office by the time this reaches you, and making yourself comfortable in that familiar yet changed space. Your words are so timely for me as well. We arrived in Florida on Jan 1, for our annual winter weeks in the sunshine. That night I came down with a bad case of food poisoning, and have been sidelined all this first week. Yet during that time of illness, I had such a strong desire to simply rest and be, something I never allow myself to do at home. I’ve happily spent long hours on the couch, looking out the window, napping, reading a little here and there, and not scrolling the internet! As I recover, I notice a clearly improved focus, attention, and thoughtfulness. These are ways of life I’ve taking home with me to keep.
it was never lost on me throughout the time I was most ill how blessed I was to be in a home and safe, with all the necessities I needed to heal. My heart often went to all those in Gaza who we know must be suffering so many times of sickness and have none of those conveniences.
Oh, Becca, thank you. The floor is in, but the baseboards still need to be installed…tomorrow…! One step at a time! Perhaps like you, I’m invited to let things be and rest in what I can do today, letting go of tomorrow’s tasks. Thank you for sharing your experience and how my words wove together so well with your recent illness. I pray that you may recover fully and remain fully focused and attentive…and yes, I join you in praying for those in Gaza who are suffering in the midst of destruction and chaos.
Peace,
Shirin
For what it’s worth, a long planned, and much anticipated silent retreat was abruptly canceled three days before we were scheduled to gather this week. I felt so disappointed and sat with that feeling for a bit before realizing maybe all was not lost? Yes our leader had tested positive for the “dreaded corona,” but couldn’t we manage a leaderless retreat? After some initial enquiries, I learned that practically all of the original participants had (separately) come to the same conclusion. A contemplative “work-around!”
Oh, Alex, what a beautiful story of the Spirit at work in the disruption! I pray that your leaderless retreat is a blessing for all involved, and that your leader does heal completely and finds their own gift in the cancellation.
Peace,
Shirin