It's all relative.

At work, most residents perceive that I am "the" problem solver. In reality, I cannot solve their problems, I merely have the ability to contact, any number of folks, who may be able to come up with a solution to certain issues. And, after six years of hearing about plumbing problems, I have reached a few conclusions:         

• The amount of water that is held in the bowl of a toilet or in a toilet tank, for that matter, is relative to the amount that one thinks should be in there.
• The rate at which a sink drains is relative to the speed that a person expects it to drain (and who stands around watching a sink drain, anyway?).   
• Proper water temperature and water pressure is relative to the temperature and force desired by each and every individual using that particular faucet. 

Now, those are my observations and conclusions. I mostly keep them to myself, and when confronted with any issues involving plumbing, I do my job. I send for a maintenance person to remedy the situation.........perceived, relative or real.

Dear God. We all have problems....or think that we do. Help us to put our issues in perspective. We praise your Holy Name.

"There was a farmer had a dog......."

The inhabitants of our facility love to have fun. They've worked hard all of their lives, and at 85 or 90 plus, they've earned some fun time. Our Activity Director plans great trips and on-site events which keep the folks busy, each and every day.
It should come as a surprise to no one, that the game of BINGO, is a favorite pastime of many of our residents. Almost everyone can play BINGO. Regardless of any physical or mental impairment, it's a lot of fun and it's the most popular "in house" activity we stage. The stakes aren't high, just one quarter per card, so maybe it just might be the excitement of a possible win, that keeps the folks coming back.
It's great entertainment to watch the proceedings of senior gaming. Every word and every number has to be repeated, numerous times. Players are quick to help each other, and occasionally tempers flare. But, the thing that amuses me most, is seeing the walkers lined up, next to the door of the BINGO room. During BINGO time, our retirement community resembles streets at the annual Motorcycle Rally, in Sturgis, South Dakota. The hallway, outside our BINGO room, looks just like a Biker Bar. The only thing missing, from the picture (and this is a good thing), is the bikers' leather clothing! No one needs to even imagine 80 and 90 year-olds, in tight leather pants!

Dear Lord. I know that we make You laugh. In all that we do, let us always remember who we are and whose we are. You are our Hope.

"You gotta have hope. Miles and miles and miles of hope."

More often than not, coincidences in my life, turn out to be God Things. For instance.....my last blog of 2019, ended with the word "hope". This morning, my longtime friend confided in me that the word "hope" was going to be the key word for 2020. Later, my devotional reading for the day was all about choosing to be "hopeful".
A few years ago, the word "choice" was the ultimate buzzword, in public education. Teachers were all about allowing children to make good choices and to encouraging them to make decisions on their own. As a substitute educator, I always tried to mimic the behavior of the regular teachers. That was until, one little fellow told me that he was "choosing not to do his math today". Stunned, I replied something like, well how about making a choice between doing your math or going to see the Principal. I think he chose the math!
I do think that being hopeful in 2020, is a choice. And, being hope-filled is what our God wants us to choose.

Dear Lord, we know that we can choose to have hope or to wallow in despair. Life invariably becomes a series of unplanned events, but if we live with the certainty that You are always with us and loving us, how can we help but be hopeful? We praise you Holy Name.