Two Cups of Tea at Hope’s Café
The last two weeks have been fraught with more obstacles than I ever expected to encounter. We were going back to home turf, right? What could go wrong? And yet there has been one obstacle after another. It has been a challenge to keep myself any semblance of centered. Mary Oliver to the rescue! She never fails to grace me with her wisdom. I came across her words about worry:
I saw that worrying had come to nothing. / And I gave it up./And I took my old body and went out into the morning and sang.
This afternoon, as I drove to make yet another attempt to transfer our phones from our carrier in Montana, after repeated and frustrating efforts, I was stopped at a stoplight by Harrison Bay. I had the sun roof open and I looked up and stared at the clouds and was just overwhelmed with gratitude. It was such a gift to me in the midst of a period that has just been exhausting, to suddenly feel uplifted, grateful despite everything. Mary Oliver has penetrating poetry that is a poignant reminder to me of the importance of gratitude.
It is a serious thing just to be alive in this fresh morning in this broken world.
Yes! I echo. Yes! There may be days; no, there will be days when nothing seems right, when we are inclined to feel victimized by forces beyond our understanding. Yet it is a gift “to be alive in this fresh morning” despite the brokenness of the world or of our spirits. Thanks be!
The invitation is open to share “two cups of tea” anytime at Hope’s Café, or anywhere you share companionship and conversation.
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 Cafe 