I heard an online sermon that started with the words “Seasons of struggle is not your destiny.” yesterday. I took it as an optimist who believed that while struggle is a part of each of our lives, it doesn’t have to be our entire existence. And for most of us, there is a lot of truth in that. Many of us have the toolkit to get through life facing the occasional struggles that are part of life. But I had to think, all around the world, there are people who struggle every day, for clean water, food, shelter, security, even struggle to be accepted as equals to those around them. When I think of those global struggles, which are also happening to people within a few miles of each of us I think, then I know I’m lucky in my life. I have good people nearby to help when the struggles happen, and these days I firmly believe that better days lay ahead.

I’ve spent the last few weeks prepping Brook Hollow for sale, and I think the sign will go up soon. As with many houses, its filled with memories, some wonderful, some not, and I don’t know if it was my destiny to live there for all my days, but I am moving on…. hopefully… if it sells…. soon….

Its mostly empty now, tools, workbench, saw, paintings, drawings, and the interesting objects that one collects over a lifetime. I’ll miss the light in the spaces. the almost 14 foot ceilings, 9 foot doors, and transom windows made the living room a great place for morning painting, the front veranda was a great spot to greet the sun with trusty Bella at my side, sleeping under the backyard veranda listening to frogs and waking to birdcalls, wonderful memories there.

I’ll start working to model the new hope house soon. Its a builder house but should treat my hip and knees well, give me a little room for a shop (it might need a special dining table) and studio, but I won’t know the light until its framed and roofed but i’m optimistic there might be a good spot to paint in it too.

Brook Hollow has housed struggles, but its in pretty good shape now, if only my hip and knees were i’d probably stay but time takes its toll on all of us, so we have to adapt. I have some friends and family who are doing similar things, moving, starting new lives in new places, and each move is a struggle, logistically, financially, socially, but in the big picture, the struggle is only momentary if we don’t dwell on it. If we can see a sunrise as a gift, see the smile of a baby, or the twinkle in the eye of people we love, the perfection of a rose, or the overwhelming quiet of a countryside as enduring and not simply seconds or moments, then the struggle fades back, we love who we are with, where we are, and when we are.

Maybe that is the destiny the preacher was referring to. Simply to love. We all need that.

Please help each other in the daily struggle, give thanks for the toolkit you have that lets you have water, shelter, food, family, and maybe drop a bit more in the basket on Sunday to help those who don’t have enough pauses between the moments of struggle.

Anyway, be nice to each other, lend a hand when you can.