Leonard Cohen, a wife and Hallelujah.
This story as these clouds above the family home has a silver lining.
There was a man and a wife.
Or should that be husband and wife, or should it be husband and a woman? That may not seem important but it is. Married folk or life partners must maintain their self along with being a part of the other -- family.
In this case the wife worked and the man worked. The man from home but traveled. The wife in a store but tooo much.
A day came for the wife to demand a raise at work or she would leave. On that day the husband was working at home writing but also playing, feeding and potty training a their 3 year old.
The stage is set a crisis in the making.
Perceived needs and irritations.
At home there were problems with the gardening. The boy was being unruly. Two problems came up with the mans' work. A new unexpected bill. The boy pooped his pants. And a check did not arrive. Hay fever was setting in.
At work she had tendered a resignation based on income. There were other issues but after 4 years there should be some stability and increase. Instead of allowing her to walk away the employer bargained for more money. She needed to speak with her husband ten times that day while he was between home and work crisis.
Sometimes you just Give thanks, Ok it is not perfect, throw you aggravations aside, and love.
When the woman called the fourth time, the husband freaked out as he was cleaning a mess while the phone to a client.
By training, he dropped to one knee. And he breathed deep and gave thanks. And he pulled the child close, and he put the client on hold and he answered his wifes' phone call by interrupting her and telling her how beautiful and wonderful she was and that her decisions were his also. That he stood by her no matter. Then some advice for getting a few bucks more and telling her he would rather starve than have her unhappy.
Smell it, be it. You can be the thorn or the Rose.
Instead of being a bad day, the day displayed love.
The suggestion here by the man's life is that by practice we can run into a hurricane and stay solid and make a possible disaster into a great blossom of love.
In our "religion and liturgy and tradition" we are prohibited from saying Hallelujah in these days before Easter. It is kind of a fun notion, and makes it great to give Praise on Easter.
But on this day, the man turned on Leonard Cohen to the above song. And Whenever God Shines his light on you. And he gave a mighty song of praise for it was not him that fought the desire to be frustrated and mad. It was not him who gave the praises and lifted up his wife and child alike.
It was something far beyond his character or capacity. I this day hope you find a piece of that to make peace of that.
Two trains colliding or Two ships passing in the night.
If we do not keep our house in order, our side of the street clean, when we meet of with others who are likewise there will be trouble. Troubled waters run deep. But if we maintain still waters, others can find refuge in our harbor and then good happens. And then good grows.
Think of our horrible shooters at schools. They had no safe harbor, they had no relief from that swirling sucking whirlpool of despair. If just one persons home had been in order and invited them in tragedy would be avoided on so many levels.
Let us start the process in our own homes.
Allow me to ask a few questions to end in order to lighten the mood.
Have you hugged a cactus today.
Dogs are people too
If dog is God backwards it may explain why dogs sniff each others butts.
My neighbors grass is not greener than mine because I just spray painted my greener.