The road is open! Traffic is moving! Other than a new sewer line, though, what did we get out of the nightmare of recent weeks? I guess it depends on each of us. For instance, I learned that people found our signs out front of St. Ignatius along Demere Road to be truly helpful in suggesting prayer, and also wickedly clever. We meant for people to be prayerful, as the Ramblings just before the work began suggested. In truth, we also tried to be clever, and we’re delighted that it worked. When Glenn and I put the idea together, however, we had no idea how clever we were being!

I wrote awhile back about the power of Facebook, as you may recall. I think I spoke about our Christmas video post that we “boosted” (paid $75 for more people to see), which reached almost 10,000 people’s Facebook walls by the time it was all said and done. Well we blew that record away with these signs. A series of photos of our signs that we posted on our page went “viral” as they say, reaching more than 23,000 people, and most of them within forty-eight hours. And we didn’t pay anything to anyone to get the post out there. It struck a chord with folks, and it was a lot of fun to see.

I hope that some of us did learn the value of some patience. North-enders really didn’t have a choice, as it turned out. Those of us who live and work up here quickly discovered to our dismay that afternoon travel to the south end or off the island was now a two-hour journey (prior to the afternoon opening of Sea Island Rd.). Frederica Road, or The Fred as we call it now, became a parking lot. Many of us either hunkered down and didn’t go out any more than we had to or we rode our bikes. On the plus side, we didn’t have any option but to go slow and take it easy. And if you had to sit in traffic more than once you realized getting worked up wasn’t worth it.

I found it hopeful that by and large, people were well mannered and well behaved. We all whined to some degree (some of us more than others), but generally, when it came to sitting in traffic together people were courteous and helpful in letting others out, etc. There were those who became monsters, posting nasty comments on Facebook. I heard or read nasty things about commissioners, county employees, police officers, developers, unnamed outsiders, and even the workers who were just doing their job. By and large, though, people were respectful and resigned to the reality of living where we live and the growth pains that go with it. I also think most of us hope there won’t be any more growth pains like this one any time soon.

As I’ve been teaching recently, we can find God in all of our experiences. It’s how we develop and grow in faith. Trust me, God didn’t cause the sewer work to teach us all a bunch of lessons. We can learn lessons from it and find God in it’s midst nonetheless, which is a truth we learn about other areas of our life. It’s not a cause and effect, where God is testing us. I’ve never bought into the “God doesn’t give us more than we can handle,” stuff, because God doesn’t “give” us those things to begin with. God is there in the midst of difficulties because God’s always with us, it’s just that we notice God when we’re struggling with something and too often think that it must be God’s doing. The problem is we don’t tend to see God in our midst unless we take the time to look.

Well, this is one of those opportunities. Where did you experience God in the midst of an endless series of inconveniences and headaches? What did it bring out in you – your best or your worst? If we don’t learn and grow from it, it would be a terrible waste. Either way, I’m glad it’s over, and I hope never to repeat it! I’m ignoring reports that the bridge on Sea Island Road just beyond CVS needs replaced. Hopefully it can wait until I’m ready for sabbatical.

Tom+

Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we thank thee for all thou hast given and for all thou hast forgiven; for thy hidden blessings and for those which in our negligence we have passed over: for every gift of nature or of grace: for our power of loving: for all which thou hast yet in store for us: for everything, whether joy or sorrow, whereby thou art drawing us to thyself through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.