Have you ever heard the saying “Life is what happens while you’re making other plans?” Well about ten days ago, I was all ready to write a new blog about my recent travels. I had come to the conclusion that traveling gives a renewed perspective on the concept of home, and I was excited to expound upon that. And then life intervened…

While hosting a dessert and fireworks evening for our family, we had an unexpectedly abrupt end to the festivities. A fall out the front door of our home brought my first ambulance ride to a local ER, and concluded the next day with surgery to repair two broken bones in my lower right leg. I am now at the mercy of my caregivers.

To say that I’m struggling with this situation would be putting it mildly. Everyone has been wonderful, and they are doing a great job taking care of me. The problem is I don’t WANT to need help with every little detail of my life! Those who know me well know how independent I am. “I can do it myself” was probably the most oft repeated phrase of my childhood. And inwardly I still feel the same as an adult.

So what is God trying to show me in this situation?

Perhaps, first and foremost, is that I need to slow down. Not that I have a choice right now, but I can admit that most days my life is just a contest to see if I can keep all of the plates spinning in mid-air without dropping any. To say they all came tumbling down last Sunday night would not be an exaggeration.

As I sit here chafing against the necessity to rest and allow my body to knit itself back together, my mind is in turmoil. I’m a “take charge” kind of person, and having to wait for others to do what I can’t is excruciating. So I guess patience would be another one of the things God is trying to help me with…

And let’s not forget humility. Perhaps the most difficult part of this entire situation for me is being helpless. As I shared with a friend last evening, I don’t do “helpless” well. I like to be the helpER and I am not used to needing help. Is this a pride issue? I never thought so before now, but I’m having to readjust my thinking about a lot of things lately. The Bible says that “Pride goeth before the fall.” I  just didn’t realize the “fall” could be literal – ugh.

Finally, my mantra of “Home Sweet Home” has turned into something altogether different now that I can’t leave! The conclusion of my unwritten blog last week was that home is not a specific address, but rather it is being with those we love. I would now add that the address we call home can become confining when we are stuck there!

As always, perspective is everything. All of this will be but a memory in a few months, and I hope that when I look back on these days of confinement that I will have taken the time to rest and pray, read and write…and not just whine.