Life vs the Fog

It is not a large picture. It does not need to be. Everyone can relate to that feeling of helpless lostness when travelling through a foggy patch. I was reminded of this in a very tangible way as I was on my way home from hockey tonight/this morning (our ice time was at 11pm so I arrived home around 1 in the morning).

For drivers (around here anyways), driving in fog requires the perfect balance between driving with a sense of confidence and competence, and tentative caution. Realistically, one could hit a deer or moose and be in serious trouble at any point along the familiar stretch of road and with heavy fog, it is impossible to see anything until it is right in front of you... when it is often much to late to react safely. The same is true for cars or other hazards. A car may have applied their brakes in plenty of time, have properly indicated they are turning and yet... as the car behind them, one has no idea until they are literally feet behind the virtually stopped car.

However, for ones own safety, it is best to drive faster than a snails pace so as to not be rear ended by the over zealous truck that is screaming down the highway. Often, the fog will not lift or disperse if you drive slower... and the flip side to driving a relatively safe and quick pace is that one is through the worst of the fog within seconds and back to being able to drive safely with 100% visibility.

Funny how often life is manifest in the weather situation, do you not agree? How there are always going to be some moments in life in which, momentarily and short term - the answer seems to be that we ought to just stop. Pull over to the side of the road, maybe wait until mid morning for the fog to burn off before continuing on our way. There will most definitely always be those moments in life in which we can not see how many fingers we are holding up, let alone where to turn, where to run, where to hide, where to venture, where to conquer. Those moments in which we are truly overtaken by circumstances beyond our control.

The only challenge that the life/fog paradox poses is that with fog, even an elementary child could point out that the sun will eventually come out and burn through the lower level of cloud or after a certain period of time, the fog will truly lift and no longer be an issue. This is a proven, scientific fact. We know "x" will happen because "y, d, a and n" happened. But with life, the story is different. We don't know what the variables "y, d, a, and n" truly are. Nor do we have the insight to "guesstimate" whether or not "x" is even possible.

Someone should work on changing that sometime soon. Just sayin'...

Matthew 25

The parable of the land owner is one that has been floating around my head recently because of a sermon that I was once blessed to hear about this passage.  Summed up in two words, the take home message was "Just Enough".  In reference to how many talents each worker had received at the end of a long day in the fields, the answer always should be, "just enough".  

I am pretty lucky that way.  You see, I have a job in which I work to train to various professions of medical students (nurses, doctors, respiratory techs, pharmacists, etc) how to interact with patients, what the 'accepted practice here in Canada is' and give them a chance to have patient interaction before they get out into the real world of grumpy people, people who will always have something wrong with them, and people who want to have their meds and take them too.  The pay ranges from minimum wage upwards to 19-20 dollars an hour and while it is not steady enough work to live off of, it is still, "just enough". 

It pays for the gas and supper to be picked up and delivered on the doorstep of a mourning family nearly two hours away; I make just enough to throw a make-shift party with balloons, cake, decorations, and "kids-wine" for a special anniversary celebration for someone who often goes unnoticed.  The pay is just enough to put two baseball tickets into a card signed, "your loyal bus-rider" to be passed off to a bus driver who has driven numerous (and thankless) routes to the university and back - battling traffic, and let's face it, annoying and somewhat disrespectful riders; it is just enough to buy a bouquet of flowers for a sibling who went through a disgusting break up, giving her hope for a sunnier tomorrow and some inflatable blow-up toys for the pool for a sibling who is sick and tired of being judged on someone else's mistakes in life.  

...And, today - the pay is just enough to fill a large birthday bag with tissue-wrapped gifts and individual notes to help someone get through an absolutely, downright, shit-tay week.  Literally, in a matter of 10 tens, the band this person was a part of = split.  A mother-in-law was moved into a long term care facility, and one of their best friends committed suicide.  No one should have to live through 10 days like that.  And so, in a bag labelled, "S.L.S. Survivor Kit (sometimes life stinks)", there are a few things to hopefully bring a smile to her face, and let her know that she is being thought of in this challenging time.  Some Sourpatch Kids candy to remind her not to allow the experiences to make her sour, a little frog in a poncho holding a sign that reads, "rain brings flowers" as a reminder that sometimes storms are healthy, a box of chicken noodle soup (with a note that says, not sure if it works, but my momma always said this would make anyone feel better), a disguise kit (in case she wants to hide from reality for a little while), a bright, smily face bouncy ball to throw at those people who seem disgustingly chipper, and among others things, a box of Mr. Clean's Magic Erasers with a note that says, "if I were the handsome, bald man and I had the power to erase the shit-tay-ness of this past week, I would... but... since I am not a man, I am not bald, and I am not magic, perhaps this might be more useful in cleaning?"  The package is topped off with a home-made card and verse and will hopefully be dropped off tonight.  If I can find my camera before drop-off time, I will include a picture, but... not something to hold your breath for!

I'm not sure how this co-worker will react as it's been a stressful time, but hopefully the point gets across that she is thought of and cared about - and that sometimes, a laugh is 100x better than a wilting bouquet of flowers.  And if not, then hopefully this messenger will keep from getting discouraged and continue working with the just enough salary, to make just enough of a difference in the world in which we live, move and have our being.