October Musings

​As autumn sets in, I feel a sense of panic. We took on an outdoor house renovation this summer that has gone awry several times, causing delays and angst. Crisp, clean, and chilly air surrounds me and I fear our deadline is upon us. Due to regulations for the products we’re using, our work cannot be accomplished in colder weather. It’s a complicated situation. Whatever isn’t finished must wait until spring, as we worry over significant winter damage…
 
Work and worry. These two words are all too familiar. They often go hand in hand. Occasionally, I become overwhelmed. I feel desolate. I may even shift toward despair. Concern floods my anxious mind. Why can’t things work out as I prefer? Why is the universe opposing me? Does it not understand my needs and desires? Have I been forgotten?
 
Deep inside, I know I’m not forgotten or abandoned. I am not isolated or alone. What a simple, almost obvious yet profound, revelation a time of apparent hopelessness! Family and friends surround and support me, while God and His angels walk beside me—all the time, each step of the way. I don’t see Him. I can’t touch Him. But, I know He is there. This core truth sustains me in difficult times. I can cope; I will persevere.
 
The inspiration for this month’s writing was not fully my own. I must confess, a recent, well-timed reading gave me such joy and comfort that I wanted to share it.
 
While writing The Bricks and Sticks of Life, I had little time for “pleasure reading.” So, I discovered the world of audio books. For a long trip, I obtained “The Horse and His Boy,” by C. S. Lewis. If you’ve never read any of The Chronicles of Narnia, or Lewis’ other well-known writings, I highly recommend them. As you may know, Lewis’ fictional books are metaphorically spiritual. I find them wonderfully engaging, entertaining and a venue for reflection.
 
The narrator’s accent and voice inflections for various characters is well done. My lengthy trip flew as I enjoyed the tale. Early on, a young boy fears for his life. The visitor causing his trouble arrives on horseback and leaves his horse outside. The boy, accustomed to having animals for companionship, wanders over and talks to the horse as if thinking out loud. Surprisingly the horse responds! The boy learns that he is a special horse, who was captured and sold into servitude. The horse longs for his homeland.
 
Wishing to be free of the bonds that keep them from achieving their true potential, they decide to run away together. On their journey, they encounter many adventures. There were times I almost held my breath, hanging on each word. As they meet and conquer their own fears, the two learn and grow. Not only do they find what they seek, but they also discover that they are not alone. Again, I don’t want to spoil your opportunity to read it, so I apologize for being cryptic…

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​In the end, details are disclosed about how they were guided and cared for. Even during times when bad things happened there was cause. The “bad things” led them where they needed to be.
 
I have to say, the revelation gave me chills. God is represented in a beautiful character. He motivates both the boy and the horse to further fulfill their destiny. That scene brought an emotional swell into my chest. The metaphor clearly demonstrates that someone or something higher watches over us always, but especially in times of fear, despair, and strife.
 
When I know that fact, when I trust it, I can let go some of my worry, relax from feeling overwhelmed, and rejoice in a warm embrace of love. I may not physically feel the arms, or hear the words, but I know it reaches my spirit. And that’s what counts!
 
Enjoy your long weekend and remember that you never walk alone.
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