I try to refrain from shooting the messenger, but that was not something I wanted to hear. I immediately discounted what he had to say regarding the construction. The end of March has never been thrown out as even a remote possibility. I’m still reeling from the possibility that it might be February. Perhaps foolishly, a couple of months ago I thought we might be “home” by Christmas.
That fantasy diminished a couple of weeks ago when the building superintendent told me that most of the trades take off for three weeks in December. I had never stopped to consider it, but that makes sense.
Most of the workers I’ve attempted to communicate with appear to “no hablo inglés” and I “no entiendo español.” I’ve probably messed up that communication, but you get my point.
Most of the workers have families in Mexico and they send their money home to provide for their livelihood. They work all year and make it home in December to be with their families.
There is seldom a day that goes by that I don’t recognize that I have no control over anything that matters. Thus I find myself three steps forward and two steps back or visa versa.” Of course, if it was totally left to me, I'd probably be farther behind than three steps.
My thoughts in the early hours of the morning went in different directions. Regardless of the direction that surfaced and disappeared, I repeatedly found myself grounded in the Scripture: "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." (ESV)"
That reality puts a smile on my face and a sense of peace in my heart. The General and I will simply take it one day at a time. I cannot think of a better formula for life.
Before I rolled out of bed this morning, I thought about the movie “Tender Mercies”. If you haven't seen the movie, let me provide a snapshot:
“After an amazing hangover, Mac Sledge, a famous country music songwriter, wakes up in a small Texan motel alone and without a dollar. He's generously offered room and board in exchange of small jobs by Rosa Lee, the young widow of a veteran soldier who lives with her young son Sonny and runs the local gas station.”
There is a lot more to their story, but if you haven’t seen the movie, I don’t want to spoil it for you. It is well worth the time to watch.
At one place in the movie, Rosa Lee reminds Mac of that Scripture. It is a process that merits duplicating: "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." (ESV)"
All My Best!
Don