patience

A Tour of Whole Foods Parking Lot

Yesterday I was driving with a friend from South Broadway in Fort Wayne to Jefferson for a trip to New Haven.

We were way-laid by an accident outside the Whole Foods entrance. The car in the driveway was pretty mangled but there weren’t any ambulances. A man directed us to go into the parking lot. It was an exercise in patience. The parking lot filled up quickly. We were all trying to reach the only other exit on the far end of the lot.

One driver in front of me looked like they’d hit the end of their patience supply and rushed the car before theirs and braked quickly.

It was a test of anyone’s patience and I did ok. Most people were pretty civil about it all. The customers in the store were probably not impressed by the unexpected traffic jam. I let one car back out in front of me, but most of the others probably had to wait a long time to get out.

I didn’t think to get any video proof of the excitement.

The only thing I was thinking was, “I hope we don’t have another accident in the parking lot!”

Gifts, unearned blessings


What do I get when I am looking too hard for something to love? I end up stirring up trouble and getting far away from my goal. Often, the things that I desire are not really good for me. I try to get an answer and it ends up that I just get more confused. The world doesn’t run to the song that I hope for and as a result I can get unhappy.

When I am patient and waiting, good things come to me. I get new qualities and I wonder where I had been to not see that I needed the grace to be happy again. The world is full of mysteries. Things that are not possible to understand are even less possible to predict. As the days go on, I find that the upward climb can be interrupted at times by an opportunity to rest. Days come and go and I remember that I have been getting stronger. The challenges of yesterday aren’t the same challenges that I have today.

Some of my blessings I don’t even notice. I am surrounded by people who care. I have people in my life that will help me grow. I forget that I have things to be grateful for… a house, my health, a loving family. When I forget these things, I stop seeing the beauty in my life. Without gratitude, I can’t remember that each day is a gift that I can build on with effort and faith.