Bummer (11/21/2025)

I have a very short “Bucket List.” I want to see the northern lights, and I want to go to Ireland. Yesterday morning when I picked up my phone after prayer, I found a photo of the northern lights from a neighbor taken hours before. They were right over my home. And I slept through it. Bummer!

I must admit that I was sad and disappointed. So close…yet I missed it. It bothered me. I kept asking “why?”  Why wasn’t it me who saw them? And then my day unfolded and with it encounters with several people that made me recognize more clearly all that others are dealing with at this time. And so, yesterday afternoon, the LORD and I had a heart-to-heart conversation. I apologized for getting my socks in a wad over something that didn’t happen when so many in the world are dealing with the difficulties that have materialized. And I gave my hope to the LORD and let go, telling Him “in your time, LORD.”

Disappointments hit all of us at different times, in different ways, for different reasons. I am reminded of the old adage that has been a guide for me often: it’s not what happens to you that matters as much as how you handle what happens to you. I realize in this case it was what didn’t happen to me, but I still believe the adage applies. Yesterday I recognized that it didn’t help anything or anyone for me to be sad about not getting my wish. I should be able to rejoice in another’s receiving such a wonderful sight and moment.

We all have “bummer moments” that challenge us, I believe. Yesterday, I was reminded of this as well as how I handle life matters especially the difficulties, the adversities, the struggles. It’s easy, isn’t it, to be all joy and light when everything is going our way. And yet the LORD calls us to be joyful and to be a light even in disappointing and dark times. I got it yesterday. I’m still not a done muffin. And the LORD is patient with me. I need to be patient as well.

Our spiritual journeys will have highs and lows. Let us seek to remember the essentials – to love well and to remain with Him and open ourselves fully so as to allow Him to remain with us. Let us also seek to be instruments of His love in this world, people of joy.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.