FEELING LIKE JOB...LIVING IN GRATITUDE

I just got a jolt. Opened my God Calling, and noted that in 2005 I wrote, "I feel like Job" and listed the reasons why. Under that in 2010, I wrote "Ditto...I feel like Job again" with reasons listed. This morning, I was pondering the past few weeks and "I feel like Job" came to mind.  Which I wrote, noting the every five years thing...I must have an affinity for Job in July.

This year's list is based on physical ailments rather than mental meanderings...which is either the good news or the bad news. My macular degeneration has acted up recently, my dry eye is causing me headaches galore, I've recently been diagnosed with sciatica in my right hip/leg, my left knee is almost completely shot, and I spent yesterday in the ER with stabbing pains in my stomach...I've got an ulcer.

And here's my God news: First thing yesterday, I called my beloved Linda who gave me a ride to the ER and picked me up from there; when it took considerably longer than I was counting on, I called Mark, my beloved condo manager, and asked if he'd take Ruckus for his afternoon walk, which he did...cheerfully; another beloved friend has sciatica and we share often with love and compassion; another has macular degeneration and has just received good news which I take as if it were my own; another beloved friend calls me almost daily and lets me ramble on and on and on; a couple of other beloved friends call me almost daily, and I let them ramble on and on and on.

And the best God news, I got home yesterday to my beloved Mac's monthly Reflections. This month he quotes Matthew 22:34-40 wherein Jesus gives his two great commandments about loving God wholly and your neighbor as yourself. And Mac asks, So how do I know whether I love God with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my mind? Loving my neighbor as myself is probably a good place to start. There. Job shoulda had such a friend.

Blinding flash of the obvious! I'm betting that's why I have a Job check-up every five years...so I'll look deeper at all the love I get and give on a daily basis without ever a conscious thought about it...which is as it must be when we're living in grace and gratitude.

Thank you.