All diagnoses were uncertain and any relief based upon medical science appeared to be temporary, at best. My personal attachment to “man’s best friend” comes in the form of an eight year old chocolate lab. Since her earliest days she has endured recurring bouts with bladder infections. As a young pup and for her first few years these bouts were annual events. As the years added up, the frequency of the infections increased as well. She would be in discomfort only during the period of the infection itself and she responded very well to medication – nothing to worry about; maybe scratch your head and wonder why, but nothing to worry about until recently. The frequency passed semi-annual a while ago and was now heading toward a frequency greater than bi-monthly. After exhausting all non-invasive, medicine only, options and considering that she likely has several years of quality life remaining (the good LORD willing), we opted for the surgical option that promised to provide clearer answers and hopefully cure things once and for all…that was a few weeks ago and all is going very well. However, a significant portion of her bladder was removed (which will grow back) and until she has fully recuperated we take her outside every two hours or so, regardless of the time of day. My kids are now adults and I never thought I would have a small baby to care for again, but I certainly have one now…and I am very tired. Yesterday I was finishing a rather busy day and thinking about my dog’s doctor visit today (her re-check appointment). As I headed home from my meeting at the church a bit after 9pm I was thinking of the things I must do in the days ahead and only after driving a few minutes did I notice my car was pulling to the right. Fortunately I did not hear anything out of the ordinary and my drive home is short; when I arrived home my front tire was flat!

I am blessed again that my father introduced me to a wonderful tire pump that plugs in to your car. I received one of my own as a Christmas present and wondered when I would get a chance to use it (I was willing to wait a long time). I filled up the tire, which luckily held the air, and then went inside to relax a bit before heading off to bed. Bright and early this morning I have called the auto repair shop (they will take a look at the offending tire) and will soon head out to the doctor’s office, hoping that my wait will be something less than an eternity. These events (my dog and my flat tire) remind me that life presents us with two types of challenges: those that allow some time for thought & planning and those that simply show up on your front door, unannounced. And in addition to the time we spend addressing those challenges, there is the joy and restful periods of our life…and that really is the point: the time for joy and rest is always there, must always be there, even when we are tempted to push the joy and rest to the side in order to serve the competing priorities of the world. I am ever more mindful of this during this season of Lent.

Although we can be easily tempted to pursue the challenges and worldly achievements of our day, we need to frequently (preferably daily) carve out some time to be in touch with our source of strength and to recognize the joyfulness that surrounds us. I am as guilty as the next person in trying to sidestep this truth, but one’s overall wellness depends on our ability to protect these sacred times of rest, sabbath rest as the Bible would teach. I am hoping the dog’s doctor visit goes well and my flat tire is easily resolved (for little $$), but I am also hoping that I can muster the energy to continue to honor my practices of rest and reflection – and I am hoping that you have the energy to honor your time of sabbath rest as well. Life doesn’t always give us ample free time (I’m still busily gathering tax documents as April draws near and I never finished raking my yard last fall, but I’m blaming Storm Alfred for that) but we will all be much better off if we resolve to protect our sacred time from the busyness of life. If Lent can teach us this one lesson, I’m sure we will all enjoy the spring days beyond Easter with greater appreciation and our lives will be the better for it!