Louisiana Summertime, One Day at a Time

It has been recently called to my attention that it has been over 5 months since I have posted a thing on this blog. I wish I could say that my public has been up in arms and counting the days until this day when I would write again. I do have one fan though! The Pops. His ghost comments have inspired me to begin anew and blog yet again!
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School began here yesterday in New Orleans and the voice on the radio reminded drivers to look out for buses and flashing school zones on the morning commute. This reality is unfathomable to me. For months I was anticipating the sweltering, oppressive Louisiana summer and seriously wondering if I would survive without complete misery. I anticipated sleepless nights and wanting to make myself a bed of ice cubes. I had visions of hurricane evacuations and wondered how many hours it would take me on I-10 to make my way clear of the NOLA skyline. Now that August is nearly half-over, I guess it's safe to say that I'm in the clear. Don't mistake me--we are very much in the middle of Hurricane Season and it has been HOT and HUMID, but I guess what they say about your body 'adjusting' is, in fact, true. (I'm sure that my apartment with central air has something to do with that, though I keep the temperature between 78 and 80.) This season in the deep south of southeastern Louisiana that I have dreaded has not been nearly as painful as I had imagined.

It seems that this is often how life goes. We anticipate something, good or bad, and before we know it, that time has passed us by. Did we enjoy those moments of expectation? Did they cause undue stress and irritation? Did we trust or did we manipulate?

I just spoke with a friend about taking each day as it comes. That's what I'm aiming for... having the faith and trust just for today. Not for tomorrow or the next day. Just for today. And sometimes just for this moment.

Philippians 4 shares wisdom on this:

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

May it only be through His strength and for His glory that I live.