Living the Prayer of St. Theresa

May today there be peace within. May you trust your highest power that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise, and love. It is there for each and every one of you. Amen. ~ Prayer of St. Theresa

Have you ever had a week where nothing went the way you thought it would? Not in a bad way, just in several unexpected ways. Monday started out all right. I went to the Y, got my walking in, attended my nutrition class, then walked some more. Came home, had lunch, then did some work until it was time to pick up my son after school.

Wanting to be efficient, I planned to do my errands on the way to get him. I started with the post office and the bank. Was on my way to get groceries when my son called, needing me to pick him up now, as his event had been canceled.

Since the cats were completely out of food, and I knew better than to return without some, I quickly stopped at the nearest store, bought a different brand (which they all but refused to eat) and picked up something for dinner. Came home, fixed dinner, and it was off to my class on the Book of Exodus at church. My grocery shopping would have to wait.

Also, at the post office, I had picked up a letter from my friend Marc, saying he’d seen an ad for a $25 sewing machine in the paper, and would I check it out for him? Since the exchange was local, I called the number. The woman who answered seemed very nice, so I said I’d call again after my Qigong class Tuesday morning.

After the Exodus class, I was asked if I would be coming to book club later in the week, and I said no, I had another meeting to attend that night.

Tuesday morning I remembered I had another appointment after my Qigong class. So I went to class, then called about the sewing machine. It was still available. I said I’d call back after my appointment. I did, and agreed to meet the sewing machine owner on my way home. Got lost a couple of times, but finally found the house. The driveway was sheer ice, and the sewing machine (complete with table) too big to fit into my car. Plus the man who showed it to me was quite elderly, and although he offered to bring the machine to my house, I insisted he wait until Friday, because I knew the weather would have warmed up by then. I had already fallen on the ice once and didn’t want him to do the same.

Didn’t get much done Tuesday due to the throbbing in my arm from falling in the parking lot after Qigong class. Since I had lost most of Tuesday due to falling and appointments and the sewing machine, I called to cancel my hair appointment for Wednesday. I needed to stay home and get some work done, needed to take a deep breath and get my life back on track.

Wednesday things really took off. Wednesday is blog day. I got the first blog written and posted, over at the PMDD site, so far so good, then quickly, or so I thought, called a friend I had been trying to reach for weeks. She needed to talk, so we were on the phone for two hours. I kid you not. I am not a phone person, so you know how unusual that is for me.

When I got off the phone my blood sugar was low so I needed to get something to eat. Good thing I had canceled my hair appointment, because I would have missed it. By the time lunch was over, it was too late to go to the Y and walk before my son got home. After he arrived, I finally made it to the grocery store, where, among other things, I bought the cats the ‘right’ kind of food (much to their delight), and had just enough time to come home and make dinner before my meeting that night.

But when I got there, after getting lost yet again, this time in the dark, I found out it had been canceled. All was not lost. I headed over to book club. I walked in the door and said, “My other meeting was canceled and I knew you guys had wine.” It had been that kind of day.

Thursday my son was off from school. Everything changes when that happens. Still, I went to class, and then ran several unexpected errands, which meant I was gone until almost noon. Once I got home, between waiting to see what he was going to do with his afternoon, and just plain putzing around, I didn’t get much more done that day. We did, however, manage to stay up late watching Clint Eastwood in Two Mules for Sister Sara.

Friday morning the phone wakes me up. It’s Louis, wondering why I am still asleep. I barely know what day it is, and mumble through the conversation.

Minutes later the sewing machine man calls. He was in the area yesterday and has been trying to reach me. We make arrangements for him to stop by in a couple of hours, when my son is awake and can help him unload the sewing machine. I go out to sweep the garage, where the sewing machine will wait until Marc can retrieve it. I end up sweeping the whole thing out, which wasn’t in my plans for the week—but it sure looks nice J.

Friday I am also supposed to take my son to get his learner’s permit. He’s checking over the form, and realizes he needs to have his doctor fill out a portion of the back page. I call the doctor’s office and they say to bring it in. I decide to take the car I unexpectedly purchased for my son out for a spin, just to turn over the engine, but it’s a no go. The ground is squishy and it’s stuck in the mud. Back into the house I go to get the keys for my car. I take the form to the doctor, and leave them with a self-addressed-stamped-envelope so I don’t have to make the trip again. That afternoon she calls and says my son has to sign the form in her presence. She won’t be available for that until Monday.

Sigh. I started out the week with a clear plan, everything written down on the calendar. I had a dozen things written down that I felt needed to be done, places I needed to be at a certain time. Five out of my dozen were accomplished, the rest were canceled or postponed, and three completely unexpected events replaced them.

Since our class on the Book of Exodus is about giving it over to God, trusting in Him to lead us to where we need to be, all I can say is God must have had other plans for me this week.

I’d planned to get my hair highlighted--instead I bought a sewing machine for a friend. I’d planned to attend a new faith sharing group meeting, instead I went to book club--where I was invited to a party, and they ended up accepting my recommendation for April’s book. I’d planned to take my son to get his learner’s permit--instead I swept out my garage and in a box found a book I’d been looking for. I’d planned to spend a day catching up on my writing--instead I spent two hours on the phone listening to a friend, who was much comforted by the call.

Who knows what a difference any of it will make? All I know is I’m learning to go with the flow, learning to trust God, and learning to live the Prayer of St. Theresa.