Confusing Sufferings
My mom has experienced significant reductions in her ability to function recently. A couple of days ago she told me that she forgot how to turn on the lights of her car. She has been driving this car since 1997. Yesterday at one restaurant, she was unable to understand the menu. At another restaurant, she insisted on ordering items that were not on the menu. This is sad and frustrating. Her attitude could be characterized as, ” If I can’t comprehend the menu, then they should prepare me whatever I like.” She seems a little better today.
Today, I took on an Act Of Suffering so as to benefit two other people. One high school classmate of mine is the minister of a small country church on a rural, dirt road in Pike County, Georgia. Another classmate of mine was giving a piano recital at this church this afternoon. My allergies woke me up at 5 a.m. this morning, interrupting my sleep. I ran sound at my own church and then had lunch with my mom. My desires were to take a nap and not drive to the next county to attend a concert in an un-airconditioned church. At the last minute, I summoned the Will to push myself and drove in the 90 degree heat to the little white church. Both friends were glad to see me. The audience totaled seven. The church’s windows were closed ! There were screen doors in the front and back of this one roomed church that allowed a slight breeze if you sat on the right side of the room, so I moved over there, allowing the ninety degree air to partially relieve my discomfort. My minister friend started the proceedings with a church hymn and a prayer. My pianist friend played an electric piano rather than the upright grand in the room. I don’t know why. The upright grand would have added to the authenticity of this journey into the past. This church, with wooden benches as church pews, is the kind of church that my ancestors attended. After twenty minutes of religious piano music, a collection plate was passed, in which we all submitted an offering for the pianist’s expenses. He then performed for a few more minutes. One of the audience members was a woman in her sixties, who started twitching and fanning herself in obvious discomfort. She then started loosening her flowered blouse and then put her hand under her blouse so as to readjust her bra straps. Her husband got up and brought her a cup of ice water. Fortunately, she did not faint. At the end of the performance, lemonade and cookies were served and anecdotes were shared among the participants. I helped the pianist load his piano into his van and then retired to the comfort of my air conditioned car. The people involved in this hot concert seemed genuinely pleased at my participation. I am glad that I pushed myself and brought happiness to others.
With calm energy,
I.C.