Sometimes, You Just Have To

“My recipe for dealing with anger and frustration: set the kitchen timer for twenty minutes, cry, rant, and rave, and at the sound of the bell, simmer down and go about business as usual.” ~ Phyllis Diller

Coping techniques are extremely important.  I remember when I was working as an intern at a psychiatric facility, we would spend many a session on teaching the patients different coping strategies.  Since everyone is different, there are many different kinds available so that someone will be able to find something that works the best for him or her.

I thought of this yesterday when I woke up.  It began the night before with texts from some people about the possibility of a school delay or maybe even a school cancellation because of the incoming weather.  Well before my alarm went off yesterday morning (and it goes off at 4:10 a.m.) I was awakened a few times by power outages.  They were just brief enough to kick in the house generator, sounding like a plane preparing for takeoff.  That didn’t do much for my sleep.

Then, when I went to the offices to open up for the 6:30 a.m. Mass, the fan blower motors were not working on our new furnaces.  They had clicked on and off so many times with the power glitching that they turned off the system.  They had to be restarted manually.

Then, as I was preparing for Mass, the power went out again and we found out, as well, that our school would be on a two-hour delay because Munster Schools were on a delay and many of our students rely on the Munster school buses.  Needless to say, by 6:30 a.m., my stress level was already high.

What do you do . . . what do you do?  For me, it was time for prayer.  Mass always helps me to focus and let things go and I was grateful that I had the 6:30 a.m. Mass.  I was doubly grateful that we were in the midst of Forty Hours as well.  After the 8:30 a.m. Mass, we exposed the Blessed Sacrament in the church for people to come visit.  At 7:00 p.m., we had our closing services for the day.

I find it very peaceful sitting in the presence of the Lord.  He has a way of calming the turbulent waters of my life and I know that He would do it for your life as well.  Are you frustrated, anxious, irritable?  Turn to the Lord and allow Him to speak to your heart.  And, by the way, if you are local, tonight is the last night of our Forty Hours.  Closing is at 7:00 p.m.

FAITH ACTION:  If you’re feeling stressed, try to make some time to sit in silence in the presence of the Lord.  Let Him speak to your anxiety and calm you down.