When good things happen I often hear the voice of Gerald May. In his life several miraculous events because the beginning of a terrible period. In reverse, bad events became gateways to renewed hope. In a casual moment I asked him what lesson along the way had stayed closest to his heart. My paraphrase of his answer is the voice I hear;
“No event in my life is inherently good or bad. It just is. The questions in every moment start with me. What will I do with what is? How will I respond? What is my intent?”
The next suggestion surprised me. “I suggest you go for a walk with God. Leave your watch in your room. Do not take anything with you. If you can, do not worry about directions, getting lost, or making your next appointment. Just walk and be as fully present as you can; let yourself be in whatever happens.”
What followed was a magical walk into the unknown. Over the years since our conversation, I have found myself coming back to that point. The questions tempered my response to the highs as well as the lows, drawing me back to the questions I find myself wrestling with at the beginning of the day.
“What will I do with what is?”
The advice I give to myself includes the following.
Appreciate everything for what it is. Beauty, wonder, and good things are wonderful in and among themselves. Enjoy the moment. Savor the experience. Let it linger, if only for a moment.
Recognize that what is good for you can be seen differently by someone else. Life is not always a win-win for everyone involved. An old story illustrates today’s reality; “God gave his people lots of babies; soon their numbers alarmed their foes.” (Psalm 105.24)
Use each moment as an opportunity to do something positive. It can be as simple as gifting another with a smile and hope. It can be an act of forgiveness to a slight. It can be something big or small. Good is calling us.
