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It IS a Gift to be Simple

Seven years ago, last month, I was recovering from my first knee replacement surgery, and trying to adjust gracefully to not being able to do for myself, to drive myself, to go and do everything I was accustomed to do. Intellectually. I understood that this was a limited time period and thought I was prepared for it, but I was chafing at the surgically imposed bonds that kept me at home, in the motion machine and away from my busy life. I was going crazy! In retirement, my schedule is packed with so many things I love and am blessed to be part of.


One afternoon, a dear friend came to visit and bring us dinner. The dinner was delicious, but even more soothing to my soul was her advice. She asked me to look at this “wilderness time” as a gift from God, and to graciously receive this gift of peace. You never know what God has in store for you to learn in the wilderness, she told me, and said she was looking forward to hearing what I learned. Two years later, when I scheduled a second knee replacement, I looked forward to a second period of “time out”, knowing that recovery would bring me precious time to slow down, to be quiet, to spend time with my husband and family without worrying about my next “to do”, and to listen to God.


This current enforced “wilderness time” is so not by choice, and we can feel anxious and perhaps angry at the restrictions on our lives and at what we see as a poor governmental response to the pandemic, and worried about when it will end. Our plans have been disrupted, and we are afraid for the future. But if we can put our panic aside, and try to roll with what comes, we will find the unwrapped present of time. This, too, shall pass and we will be back to our NoVa hurriedness with the precious memory of quiet. Meanwhile, look and see what needs to come out of that crowded hall closet…. 


“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you” 2 Thessalonians 3:16



Love and miss you all,

Lolly Mixter


Holy Comforter Website