GOD ANNOYS ME
"God annoys me." Not my words - my daughters. On our 2.9 mile walk to school this morning we were discussing world affairs and some affairs a closer to home - like AT home. All things considered, that was her decided opinion about God. Remember she only has a 16 yr. old perspective on things, she still believes in justice and just rewards. Hasn't quite grasped the concept of "Free Agency" yet and lacks experience. Time will change how she sees things I'm sure. But I did have to agree, "Sometimes He annoys me too kiddo." But usually only when things don't work the way "I" think they should.
I tried to resolve the bank overdraft issue from yesterday. I spent hours on it this morning, all very frustrating with no satisfactory resolve. Especially since the bank zinged me anyway with an "insufficient funds" charge AFTER I talked to them yesterday and told them I hadn't authorized the mysterious payment and to please not pay it. All in all it's going to cost me $55. Got notice my rent went up too. After my lovely afternoon (see Magic below) I went to my babysitting job then everything crumbled, like dominoes. Shoes that didn't fit, long walk home, 2 loads of laundry (washing machine stole my last $3 bucks from me, and in this complex you have to fill out a report and send it to the manufacturers of the machines before you can be reimbursed) and a hungry teenager waiting for me. Couldn't get any money in the bank since I haven't been paid yet and my cash on hand - which wouldn't have covered the fees anyway- had to go to groceries. Long walk to the grocery in shoes with holes worn through, got a cramp in my left butt cheek on the way and Charley Horses in both calves shortly after (butt cheek cramps hurt really bad just in case you didn't know, and it's not like you can massage them with dignity in public). I finally limped around the corner of Safeway only to find them "CLOSED DUE TO POWER OUTAGE". Are you SERIOUS?!!!!! So I huffed and puffed frustration for a few minutes then walked even further the opposite direction to the next grocery store. All the while the pain in my lower back is intensifying. I try hard to keep a positive attitude, but it’s TOUGH when your back, feet and legs hurts really bad.
A friend of mine treated me to an outing this afternoon - and squares of DARK CHOCOLATE - straight up, no fancy stuff, just dark chocolate, BLESS HER!! She took me to a nearby Japanese Garden. So beautiful, so quiet, and so serene. We watched the Koi fish and turtles for a very long time. The final part of the trail we followed, went through a Bamboo Forest - veeerry cool. We were sitting on a bench soaking up positive energies and recharging our souls when a middle aged Japanese woman with her three nieces came upon us. As they were passing I heard the woman ask the girls if they wanted to hear the story of The Bamboo Princess now since the setting was most appropriate. Before the girls had a chance to answer her, I DID! "I want to hear the story of The Bamboo Princess" - so did my friend. So the four of them sat on logs and she began. It was immediately clear this woman was a natural story-teller, I was on the edge of my seat. It was a longish story but I didn't care, she told it beautifully. Gentle spring sun filtered through the Bamboo, illuminating the bright green moss on the steep banks of the trail. Tiny pink flowers were like little kisses here and there. And there we sat, the six of us, my friend and I strangers to the little group at our feet. On the lady went, so expertly, so captivating. The ending of the tale was a sad one, but it was a magical half hour and I felt blessed to have been in the right place, at just the right time. As it turned out, the woman is a professional storyteller with Japanese Folklore as her specialty. God may be annoying at times, but He still touches me - what a GIFT! I did the HAPPY DANCE in my heart right there!
"God annoys me." Not my words - my daughters. On our 2.9 mile walk to school this morning we were discussing world affairs and some affairs a closer to home - like AT home. All things considered, that was her decided opinion about God. Remember she only has a 16 yr. old perspective on things, she still believes in justice and just rewards. Hasn't quite grasped the concept of "Free Agency" yet and lacks experience. Time will change how she sees things I'm sure. But I did have to agree, "Sometimes He annoys me too kiddo." But usually only when things don't work the way "I" think they should.
I tried to resolve the bank overdraft issue from yesterday. I spent hours on it this morning, all very frustrating with no satisfactory resolve. Especially since the bank zinged me anyway with an "insufficient funds" charge AFTER I talked to them yesterday and told them I hadn't authorized the mysterious payment and to please not pay it. All in all it's going to cost me $55. Got notice my rent went up too. After my lovely afternoon (see Magic below) I went to my babysitting job then everything crumbled, like dominoes. Shoes that didn't fit, long walk home, 2 loads of laundry (washing machine stole my last $3 bucks from me, and in this complex you have to fill out a report and send it to the manufacturers of the machines before you can be reimbursed) and a hungry teenager waiting for me. Couldn't get any money in the bank since I haven't been paid yet and my cash on hand - which wouldn't have covered the fees anyway- had to go to groceries. Long walk to the grocery in shoes with holes worn through, got a cramp in my left butt cheek on the way and Charley Horses in both calves shortly after (butt cheek cramps hurt really bad just in case you didn't know, and it's not like you can massage them with dignity in public). I finally limped around the corner of Safeway only to find them "CLOSED DUE TO POWER OUTAGE". Are you SERIOUS?!!!!! So I huffed and puffed frustration for a few minutes then walked even further the opposite direction to the next grocery store. All the while the pain in my lower back is intensifying. I try hard to keep a positive attitude, but it’s TOUGH when your back, feet and legs hurts really bad.
A friend of mine treated me to an outing this afternoon - and squares of DARK CHOCOLATE - straight up, no fancy stuff, just dark chocolate, BLESS HER!! She took me to a nearby Japanese Garden. So beautiful, so quiet, and so serene. We watched the Koi fish and turtles for a very long time. The final part of the trail we followed, went through a Bamboo Forest - veeerry cool. We were sitting on a bench soaking up positive energies and recharging our souls when a middle aged Japanese woman with her three nieces came upon us. As they were passing I heard the woman ask the girls if they wanted to hear the story of The Bamboo Princess now since the setting was most appropriate. Before the girls had a chance to answer her, I DID! "I want to hear the story of The Bamboo Princess" - so did my friend. So the four of them sat on logs and she began. It was immediately clear this woman was a natural story-teller, I was on the edge of my seat. It was a longish story but I didn't care, she told it beautifully. Gentle spring sun filtered through the Bamboo, illuminating the bright green moss on the steep banks of the trail. Tiny pink flowers were like little kisses here and there. And there we sat, the six of us, my friend and I strangers to the little group at our feet. On the lady went, so expertly, so captivating. The ending of the tale was a sad one, but it was a magical half hour and I felt blessed to have been in the right place, at just the right time. As it turned out, the woman is a professional storyteller with Japanese Folklore as her specialty. God may be annoying at times, but He still touches me - what a GIFT! I did the HAPPY DANCE in my heart right there!