Here........it "ain't" too bad!

"No matter what looms ahead, if you can eat today, enjoy the sunlight today, mix good cheer with friends today, enjoy it and bless God for it. Do not look back on happiness -- or dream of it in the future. You are only sure of today; do not let yourself be cheated out of it. "

Henry Ward Beecher

Today, I realized that I'm not twenty anymore.  Dammit it sucks!  After a wonderful weekend hiking with Big Daddy and enjoying a weekend of solitude,

we returned to our normal routine. 

 I took one extra vacation day to recoup, do laundry and at least vacuum up the

dog triplets hair that had accumulated while we were away.  I promise you that what we got up was enough to knit a black and white hounds tooth doggie coat big enough to clothe a Rottweiler or really fat greyhound. 

 After doing a few loads of laundry and going to the grocery, I went for a workout with my trainer---it was back day, which was good because I was aching a bit from the hiking we'd done--so I found gratitude that I would not have to be doing lunges.  It started off good but then suddenly, that pull I'd been having in my shoulder, shot down to my back and it took my breath. I don't like complaining or being a weenie---well very often that is-I'm so competitive that I try to lift more and more each time--cause I think I'm young in my sexy hot body and want bragging rights about how much I can lift--even if I'm just bragging to myself and off color son.

I finished my workout without much whining and headed home. 

 I then started messing with the TV and blue ray and got everything out of wack.  I had to unplug everything and then start from scratch.......long story short......when I tried to get up...pain made me say a few choice words that I did not learn in seminary or church.   The tightness got worse and by nighttime.....this sexy hot mama was walking like an eighty year old woman----and when I sat down....

oh my!  I slept sitting on the couch last night and then had to take a sick day today from work due to my pain.  The doctor has given me a muscle relaxer and told me to stay away from the gym until after the weekend.  I may drive my family crazy---I get what off color daughter calls---"the crazy's"---when I don't get to have my daily workout.  This means I'm irritable and more apt to seem like I've not had my crazy meds for the day. 

I am sitting on the couch wishing I was back hiking in the quiet solitude and beauty of the mountains or sitting by the rolling steam listening to the crackle of the fire that Big Daddy built.

I'm beginning to feel the muscle relaxers taking over and I'm already starting to dread heading back to work tomorrow...dreading getting back in the same ole routine.

Earlier today, I was trying to get caught up on all my blog reading and an old seminary friend updated her blog about the time I started.  She is really funny and full of southern humor.  Today's post especially touched me...made me laugh....made me think...

think about life and my off color children and about how I'm alot like her little girl

throwing a fit in the back seat---stuck between the there of the recent vacation and the here of getting home.  

Erin goes on to say we spend alot of time......in between....in between here and there.

She is right.  I wonder if perhaps...just perhaps....it is in this transitional time that we are best able to hunker down and let our roots rest, drink some spiritual water and grow.    The present offers the gift of gaining wisdom from the past, of learning from our mistakes and the wonder of finally realizing that what we thought was going to kill us---didn't---it teaches us about the wonder of grace.  In the same tension, the present lets us dream, wonder, analyze and live an imaginary future.  The present is often our reality check. It makes us thankful and when we can stay in it...the present that is...we

are able to find a bit of gratitude in whatever comes along---even a pulled muscle at the gym----two years ago, I would not have fit in my sexy hot bikers spandex and I'm sure I would not have even been able to move the weight at all.  I've come along way--bad back and all.

I don't like much where I'm at today.  I'm having an internal tantrum and Cecil the devil dog from the gates of hell is sitting on his butt begging and barking---I don't have a clue what he wants but I wish he'd stop.  My back is tight, my head...my head is getting woozy...and I'm here....here in this moment........stuck between past and future...

and

even with a bad back----------I'm thankful for this

moment of reflection...

thankful for doctors and muscle relaxers,

thankful for the tree I've been watching down by the Kroger-- turn from orange to the brilliant red of a burning bush.....every time I see it....it reminds me to seek and look for the holy in the ordinary routine of life.....

Here

between past and future...

is

a  good place, a holy place, a growing place.

Here--that's where I am---and it "ain't" too bad.

Go on over and read Erin's post...she's hilarious, a bit off color herself in a southern kind of way and very theologically reflective.

Let her know what you think by leaving a comment or two......

Between Here and There

http://irreverin.wordpress.com/

blessings and hugs to all of you........

happy Monday!!!  oops...I mean Tuesday!