Moving On

Recently in my life, I've had to work hard to get past some every day hurts and normal life-stuff that takes its toll. For example, last Friday I said goodbye to my faithful dog and companion for the last 13+ years, Bubba. Things are changing rapidly at work - new officers with new zeal for which I am grateful - but even good change is stressful. My body is changing. "Old age ain't for sissies" is a gross understatement of the facts! My husband and my best friend are at odds. My cat is bulemic. You know what I mean? Life-stuff.
Little by little they eat away at my energy and reserves. I keep waiting for the day I get caught up with everything and can sit back and rest. I'm still waiting. And waiting. And waiting.
My only solace is prayer time. I sit in my chair with my Bible open, eyes closed, hands uplifted, and everyone KNOWS not to disturb me. I'm also blessed to have a job where I can shut my door and have my secretary tell everyone I'm in prayer, and not only do I not get fired for praying on the job, my folks are rather PROUD of the fact their minister prays!
Breathing helps, too. Stopping to breathe deep I tell myself, "Breathe in the Spirit of the Lord, breathe out the bad stuff. Breathe in the Power of the Spirit, blow out the insecurity. Breathe in the breath of life, blow out the enemies of life." Even just 2 minutes of this mantra at my desk will give me the strength to carry on.
Some of us have deep wounds. Childhood horrors that derail our adulthood. Addictions. Fear. Physical pain. Sickness. Mental illness. These require much more than prayer, though prayer is the starting point. God can work miracles through counselors and therapists, Pastoral Counselors, ministers, priests, youth group leaders, NA and AA and many other 12-step groups, psychologists and psychiatrists, and medical doctors. Never be ashamed to ask for help. Healing was an important part of Jesus ministry when he was among us, and, though it looks different today than it did then, it is no less miraculous what God and medicine can do.
As I hugged my Bubba's lifeless body on Friday, I thanked him and God for the blessing of knowing the unconditional love of a dog. I thanked God for bring Bubba into my life and asked him to give Bubba a big yard to run in up in heaven. Then I had to go back to life with a Bubba-shaped hole in it. But God was faithful and true, and somehow I got through the work I had to do with peace and comfort. Moving on is hard, even in the smallest of things. But God's presence and grace are always with us. There's a saying we have around my house, "If life brings you to it, God will bring you through it." Moving on is easier when we know we don't go alone. God has gone before us to prepare the way, walks by us to share the way, and walks behind us to guard and stay.