Sleeping with Bread

The examen, based on the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius, helps a person hold onto what spiritually nourishes him by looking at what is giving him consolation in his life or causing him desolation. It allows someone to express his gratitude to God for the good stuff and turn to him for solace for the bad stuff.

"Random acts of kindness" was the gift that Bill, one of my weblog buddies, asked for in celebration of surpassing the doctor's prognosis of 2 years. He's now into his 6th year--and for his celebration of LIFE he asked for random acts of kindness.

I was saving mine up for November 1st--the official celebration day. Well, I was until some of the people who visit his weblog started doing their acts.
I don't like being beaten to the punch--so I figured I best get going, or I'd be 'one-upped'....and LORD knows I can't have that happen!!

And what better place to 'warm up'.....than with the man I share my home and my life with.


The desolation for the week was in what I discovered.


I made himself his 'first thing in the morning cup of coffee'. "Ahhhh.....I know what you're doing--it's a plot to steal my second cup while I'm busy drinking the first....."
I decided to cook the meals this weekend "You're tired of my cooking already......"
I offered to retrieve a tool from the basement "I'm not so old I can't make the stairs...."
I bought him a present for Halloween "What's this for?"
I asked him out on a 'date' "Okay......that's it--what are you up to......"

I didn't like discovering that.
I could dismiss it--but I'm smart enough to know that I had my part in creating it.

The consolation-- "...the greatest of these is love."
It's really quite simple.

Being asked by Bill to make a concerted effort to do what really is so simple, to make the time for someone, to THINK of others--to ask myself 'what can I do to make something a bit easier for this person'.....
I mean, really...I should have to be asked to do this?


Friday I was asked to accompany a friend to the vet. Her cat of 17 years was in renal failure and she knew the 'right thing' was to put her cat of 17 years to sleep.
I've been there. It's such a hard thing....
I paused. I really didn't want to. There's so many painful, uncomfortable things about having to do that journey.
I heard my brain trying to pull up the justifications as to why I wasn't able to go with her.
I went anyway.

And when the moment came and she wasn't sure she could remain in the room--I heard my brain trying to pull up the justifications as to why I shouldn't be in the room.....
I offered to stay.
She stayed--and I stayed with her.

It wasn't until the journey home that she was able to tell me she'd always hated herself for not staying with another cat she'd had to put to sleep years earlier.


Oh, there were other acts--I'm embarrassed to admit I was about to say "I went out of my way". Really--can I claim that? I can say, I did some things that were uncomfortable and inconvenient ....and humbling--some things that demanded I get out of my own comfort, turn off my own brain and really think of the other person(s) involved.
And I discovered that I'd let ".....the greatest of these....." become work.

WORK.




I don't think Bill made the request with any working knowledge that You were going to use him as You did. But You're smart like that. Good choice.....and....Thank You.
I'll get back to the business of loving now.
Amen