Spot of Tea, anyone?

I cuddled up in front of the wood stove on a recent, cool Alaska summer morning.  I grabbed the remote control for our television, fumbling with the buttons to find the one that would allow me to watch a pre-recorded show.

Sheila Walsh would be speaking.

Sheila has a gift of making one feel like you are sitting across the table with her. I mean it. It’s like she’s right there in your home, sharing some Tetley Tea (with a spot of milk and a dash of sugar, poured from a tea pot wrapped in a ‘cozy’, our tea cups warmed with hot water before our tea was to be poured, of course!)

 I look forward to these Wednesday mornings. My tea cup gets more than filled to the brim.

This week her words of wisdom and discernment admonished me to be still; even in the midst of the raging storm I was in. I chuckled to myself saying “my remodeled body is not letting me do much other than either ‘be still’” when I find the center of the storm, or be thrashed about.

I felt like my boat (my body?!) was going to capsize or maybe even sink as waves crashed around me. Book 2, Don’t Wimp Out was so close to being sent off to be edited. The storm is going to make it be delayed.  I longed for the calmer waters, wishing I could turn the calendar back for a “do-over”, and go back to the beginning of May.  Instead I got a body “make-over” and I was not at the helm steering the boat.

During the days I would find myself thrashing about, feeling the waves of nausea overtake me as I ran for the porcelain pot.  I felt like the ‘Invasion of the Body Snatcher” had taken over my body.

 I was more than ready to raise the white flag.

But who would I raise the white flag to? The invaders? To God?

Sheila’s voice interrupted my thoughts.

“There are new beginnings out of the worst of storms,” she said.
 “And, remember, storms don’t always announce themselves.”
She finished by talking about finding treasures after a storm.

Treasures.

 It quickly reminded me of the 42 inch around glass fishing ball we found as we were flying kites on our honeymoon 41 years ago on the Pacific Coast. We found it the day after a huge storm blew in. There was wild high surf, and crashing waves. The howling winds kept  us awake all night storm. Treasures. Storms.
 
But what treasure could be found as I am forced to give up the deadline for Don’t Wimp Out?  What could I possibly look for as my body was being battered by a daily typhoon, being tossed every which way but loose? What? Where? How? 
Peace.
Quiet.
Listen.
Rest.
Be still.
Know.
Surrender.
I wrapped my hand around my tea cup, warming my hands. My heart was filled and warmed as well.

Sheila was right. Storms don’t always announce themselves. I can't turn the clock back to the beginning of May for a do-over.

But the One who created me is at the helm. He is bigger than any storm.He promises me that peace is found, no matter what storm, no matter what situation you or I find ourselves in.
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Spot of  tea anyone?