Still A Dreamer

“We are most deeply asleep at the switch when we fancy we control any switches at all.” – Annie Dillard

It was my thought to delve into one of my favorite books, “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy” by Sarah Ban Breathnacht, for the month of December. But when I picked up the book and put the placemarker ribbon to the top, the book fell open to November 30th – a sure sign that this is what I was supposed to read. And the quote above was at the top of the day’s reading.

Of course, this was what I was meant to read. We all come through periods when it seems everything goes right – things get done with minimal effort; the results we desire are achieved; and all is well. We feel in control. And then comes a rough patch – a car accident; the furnace isn’t working; the oven dies; the furnace is fixed but the emergency switch is faulty and won’t turn the furnace off if there IS an emergency; the new stove fumes are so toxic they cause a severe allergic reaction; and on and on and on. It seems nothing is in our control.

But there is one thing we can control – our thoughts and our reactions. We will never be in control of all the things that happen around us; that’s just life. Believing we’re in control during the smooth patches becomes an illusion that is easily shattered when life deals out a whole bunch of crap. Learning to be in the moment and accept the things that happen and move through them without fear is a lesson we all can learn and/or practice. And why the book fell open to this page for me.

The switch at the head of the stairs is now fixed. I feel safer, but understand that the switch is no guarantee. It’s an interesting place to be.