I’m back! As of now, I still don’t have my Colorado pictures (some of which are taken by my husband’s amazing new camera) loaded onto my computer. So instead, I will first blog about what God taught me about distractions during this week of sabbath rest and family celebration. You wouldn’t want to see photos of the distractions anyway.
Distraction #1: My cold has morphed into a pounding sinus balloon by the time we get on the plane bound eventually for Denver. Truly, I do not feel well. I am majorly medicated with antihistamine, cough medicine and cough drops. Tissues bulge my pockets. I hope against hope I will not infect those who travel near me. The change in air pressure plugs my ears and hurts my ear drums. My husband and a lady in the terminal where we board the connecting flight try to teach me tricks to open up my ears. Never mind, this is my coveted week of sabbath rest after six intense months of work. Surely God’s sabbath blessings are right around the corner…
Distraction #2: No time to find food at the Newark airport where we walk off one late flight and into a moving line to board another. Therefore when somewhere over the midwest the flight attendant offers a microwaved turkey dog, I hungrily accept it. Bad mistake. Thirty minutes later a vicious attack of cramps cannot be assuaged by Rick’s pack of antacids. On the list of pain, one to ten, I am at 8.5. Sinuses and stomach are making me into a whining, squirming mess. Maybe the woman seated next to me doesn’t notice. Just let me off this plane soon so I can catch a breath of God’s sabbath blessings
Distraction #3: Hidden costs are suddenly revealed at the economical car rental. Patience grows notably thin, but the pain has simmered down to around a 6. Take a deep breath, look at the Rockies in the distance, and God’s sabbath blessings are right around the bend in the road…unless we mistakenly get on the I-470 toll road without the proper car equipment and have to pay $25.
Distraction #4: Morning at the Denver Art Museum where I fall in love with a series of six works, small watercolors done on a rafting trip down the Colorado River, one painted each day. Later, while resting tired feet and eating my first real meal since the infamous turkey dog, my nose starts to bleed and doesn’t want to quit. Antihistamines and dry, mile-high altitude have done their work. My ego feels fortunate that I am sitting facing a wall and don’t have to look at people staring at my predicament. Thirty minutes later I am looking at people staring at me anyway as we walk a dozen city blocks back to the car, a wad of napkins held firmly to my face. Never mind; we are heading up into Estes Park! God’s sabbath blessings are in those mountains.
Distraction #5: The day of our nephew’s wedding. The family meets for a hearty breakfast, and we are revved up to hike what my brother assures us is an easy-moderate climb to “Gem Lake.” Since I am a lowlander (we are at 8000 feet), I stop to catch my breath frequently and brush at my uncontrollably watering eyes (no more antihistamines allowed). Yet the blessings of bright sun, blue sky and laughing family are abundant. At the top of the trail I move along the water’s edge to take a picture of the family sitting on a boulder. Turning, I then become so enthralled with taking a photo of a twisted tree root that I trip over a rock. My right elbow breaks my fall, for which my face is grateful. However, I can barely lift, pull or push with the joint that is quickly swelling and turning a bruised color. Remember, my left elbow is already out of commission and is forbidden to lift, pull or push for another week because of its dislocation a month ago. This is going to be an interesting, somewhat painful walk down the mountain, but surely God’s sabbath blessings are back at the parking lot. If I can only keep from slipping….
Distraction #6: I wake coughing in the middle of the night, arm throbbing, nose bleeding. I am a basket case. I start catastrophizing about how can I ever fly back to Harrisburg with all my luggage by myself. (Rick will be flying to a conference in Minnesota.) I panic. But the Big Thompson River keeps rushing by, not ten feet from my open window. And as if celebrating the joy of the newlyweds, the moon, full and silver, beams light on any who are awake or not to notice. Even through the thick branches of the ponderosa pine, the glint of moonlight manages to find me, worried and tensely curled in my bed. The steadiness of pine, the moon, the river, the husband beside me—surely all these are God’s sabbath blessings, if I will only notice. The rest is just distraction.
Joseph says
WOW !!! So much for the much deserved rest. Sounds like you need a vacation, to recover from the vacation! Hmmmm, Perhaps he didn’t think you were ready for a Sabaath?! Just Joking, Honest!!
Elaine Dent says
The distractions ultimately did not win. Soon I will write about the “good” stuff. Just hoping for a few pics first.
PattyW says
My oh my…I await the “‘good’ stuff. It’s hard to find our focus when amid the distractions. May your Sabbath blessings always provide you focus and direction through the distractions. Glad you are back. Peace.