What a ruckus! Everywhere you turn in this town, the roads are torn up, closed off, impossible to know from one day to the next which roads are open to get where you want to go. Old water pipes are being removed and new ones put in, a good thing in and of itself. Perhaps we won’t have to deal with the burst pipes every winter as in years past. But now progress is disrupted by the recent snow, which continues to fall. It is a rare conversation lately that doesn’t include some reference to the roads.
Perhaps we could use a few reminders:
1) This is a “first world problem.” How many people live with disruptions that have much more serious consequences for their well-being? We could be Ukrainians trying to stay alive in the midst of war. Or refugees fleeing extreme violence in our country. Or someone who is stranded in an abusive relationship with no resources. Or ( and I only learned this this week) we could be residents in our local nursing home, which suddenly announced its closing and intention to get all occupants out before Thanksgiving.
And 2) disruption is a part of life and sometimes a necessary one.
And 3) good can come of disruption. For example, no one would like to repeat the covid pandemic. But after years of trying to raise the minimum wage, employers were forced to raise them in an effort to secure their work force.
Some have succinctly described this:
“ Trust me, you can’t change anything without causing some degree of disruption. It’s impossible, that is exactly what change is. Some people are uncomfortable with the disruption that change causes, but the disruption is necessary if anything is going to change.” Afeni Shakur
“Change is inevitable and the disruption that it causes often brings both inconvenience and opportunity.” Robert Scobie
While I admit I have groused right along with most of the folks in our little community and these reminders are for me as much as anyone, I find some gratification in the bond that this disruption has offered. We all are experiencing the problem to one degree or another. We share our frustration. At a time when so much division exists, there is some little blessing in this “opportunity” to unite in our common “misery.”
May we be bearers of hope, the “wait staff” of Hope’s Café for each other and all those we encounter. Shalom, Kate
Hope’s Café Bonus: Where do you see opportunity in the midst of some disruption affecting you?
Hope's Cafe 
The month after I retired in 2014, I went back to work part time. I had this job that I loved until COVD took it away and it didn’t come back. I miss having money and I miss being with my fellow teachers (who were all full time and thus continue to work together) but it gave me the opportunity to finally start attending the Guild meetings at my church. I had always paid dues and sent food for funerals, but I never got to actually attend a meeting because I was working. I now have the opportunity to meet ladies I never knew from church, and to actually serve at the funeral receptions, which is something I’ve always wanted to do – to provide one last service to someone from my parish.
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