Say Grace

Get a beer, this one is deep.

I sometimes get caught up in me.  That is, the very simple, uncomplicated aspects of my life expand in relevance to me until they appear to be far more complicated and consuming than they are.

And then, often, I am humbled.  I call these moments of grace.  Take whatever definition of it you want, though I favor non-religious ones: Definitions of Grace

In essence,  my moments of grace are revelations by others that have a way of making my looming, sometimes overshadowing, issues shrink - sometimes even whither, like vampires exposed to light.

This week, I received an email from a young lawyer, Brian, who I supervised at my former job.  When he worked on my team, he came to me to explain his girlfriend had some developing medical issues, would be having a battery of tests, and he asked for time off in the upcoming months. He said he couldn't quit - he needed the job (aka, the money).  I told him that I would grant everything I could given the size of the team and the nature of the project.

When it turned out his girlfriend was diagnosed with MS, I shared that my sister had had MS for about 20 years and offered her as a connection.  He said they appreciated that and would call on me/my sister as needed.

It has been almost six months since I left my former company.  I did not stay in touch with Brian.  So, when I got his email this week, it stopped my spin for a bit.  As I read his update, I was humbled  - this time by the brave attack this young couple was making against MS when getting jobs, careers, figuring out a relationship path, and just making plans for fun would already consume most people. 

A moment of grace.

Then, in case my worries dared to creep back; I got news yesterday that a friend of mine was diagnosed with a large malignant tumor.  He is young, married, and full of life. And faces such a horrifying challenge that I cannot even take my new job and its required move in the same too-serious way I felt for the last month.  Who really cares about stuff you accumulated or jobs when someone battles for their life?  (If he reads my blog, my positive thoughts are with you.) As for the rest of us . . .

A moment of grace.