Little Joys

The sun is warm on my face and the air is cool.Mashing a couple over-medium eggs into my hash browns.My daughter leaning her head into my shoulder.My son making a groan-worthy pun.A smile from my wife.In the past week my heart has been weighed down every time I have turned around. News of a pastor taking his life. A friend losing his marriage. Congregation members in pain. Friends facing inexpressible grief. And my heart is heavy.I considered writing a serious piece reflecting on grief, or the need for us to care for one another, or other meaningful topics. Every time I put a paragraph down...it wasn't right. Fine grammar and spelling, even passable content, but not right.I stepped away from the keyboard awhile and walked. As we get into fall, the air is cool in the morning. At the same time, the sun was warming my face.A little grace, a little lightening of the load.As I write this now, I am sitting down in a diner with bacon, over-medium eggs, and hash browns.A little grace, a little lightening of the load.One by one, the little things I can be grateful for ran through my mind. Even friendships lost, and memories or good things which once were.A little grace, a little lightening of the load.Maybe I will write something serious later. Maybe I have something to contribute to conversations of suicide and loss. But maybe, the important thing today is a reminder to myself and anyone who stumbles across this little blog to take a moment to receive the little graces and the little lightening. Knowing they can't fix the troubles, but also recognizing that the troubles can't diminish the grace.In the midst of the frustration expressed in the book of Ecclesiastes, the preacher reflects for a moment:

I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil--this is God's gift to man.

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 ESV

Now, I'm going to turn off the keyboard, enjoy my eggs, and smile at the sun enjoying the light with a heavy heart.