INSPIRASUNS

When you read the title of today’s little blog you might think I’ve taken up playing the game that is almost as popular as pickleball. I can assure you, I have not, although it is on my list of things to do upon retirement, learning how to play Mahjong that is.

So what’s up with the title of today’s blog then? Well, I think I’ve mentioned here before that we have a weekly group of Mahjong players at the church. Each Wednesday you can usually find them at tables by the waterfront. I stop by to say hi and catch up, and admittedly watch what they’re doing to see if I can attempt to understand the game. Ya…I’ll leave it for retirement 🙂 .

Anyway, yesterday afternoon I caught a glimpse of a few of them coming in for their usual games. Well, Houston we have a problem. You see our parish hall floors are being refinished and it’s been quite the process of roping off various sections throughout the last few weeks. Yesterday just happened to be the day that half of the room was blocked off. This meant I couldn’t get their standard card tables out of the closet, and even more importantly, their game boards and trays were all stowed in the pantry just past the newly sealed floor.

We had planned to move this wonderful group of women over to our library for the afternoon. I could have even figured out how to get the card table, but the game boards and trays, ya, that one we didn’t think about. Sooo…no Mahjong yesterday 😦 .

I apologized multiple times for them making the trip only to turn around and go home. Each one of them laughed and said it was no problem at all. “It got me out of the house regardless”, was one comment. They joked about, if this was as bad as the day got, and assured me it was no problem. “It’s out of our control and not worth worrying about”. Bingo! Lessons from Mahjong, hence this morning’s title.

The way this group handled things yesterday was so spot on. A disruption in their day, in their routine, out of their control, they assessed, accepted it was out of their control, laughed, and adjusted. Isn’t that how we should live our lives?

Friends there will always be times when the unexpected happens. There will be challenges we will face that are out of our control. We can choose to get upset, or, we can accept that we cannot control the situation, and we can lean into Jesus and ask Him to guide us through. You know what, He will do just that because He is in control 🙂 .

So, remember the serenity prayer, “Father, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”. I might add one little part to that prayer, “and seek your guidance through it all”.

Have a good day friends, please continue to lift prayers for all those affected by the recent floods, and please continue to pray for the return of sweet Emily Rea.

Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feed and a light to my path.