The Middle of the Sargasso

It's Sabbath and cooler this week due to a hurricane and nor'easter  that rolled through.

Yesterday was a great day and I was blessed. I was blessed by having everything I needed to brace the elements from the hood on my new toggle coat and green crocheted neck thingie (best name I could come up with) to my hunter boots that I made such a big deal out of having to have. I don't normally go after expensive things. I like quality and try to get it when I can.

God permitted several humbling moments to come my way because He knows how my heart is when I am wearing them.

I wore them for the first time Wednesday and expected rain. I really wanted it to rain so I could show the world I owned these beautiful, but silly pair of boots. I parked my car after an awkward drive in them and arrived at the train platform to find my train was running late. I finally got on the train and to arrive for another train and those trains were having trouble too. 

I got the next train and arrived at my stop point. I got up to the street level to decide : Well, I didn't make it to work at 8:00am so since I'm  late, I can show more of the world my awesome shoes by showing up at that new food mart the mayor made a big stink about that just opened up a week or so ago. Surely they'll appreciate seeing such great shoes!

I marched down the street in my shoes and suddenly a car raced by and splashed gross city water on my shoes and me. That hasn't happened since 2005 and this is what, the second time?

I  get inside the store that is packed with hungry people. I order and pay for my food. Then I wait for my number to be called.

And I wait and wait and wait.

Although I paid for my purchase, my number was never called. I ended up thinking they called 22 when they were on 122. After 25 minutes of me staring these food workers in the face, I got my food after showing them.

It wasn't their fault.

I felt important and that I needed to show the world my boots. God had to humble me. I left the store with my last memory of having those purple headphones (I might add) because I still can't find them! I went to my office building to run into the man who hired me and he said his train was running late. I told him all my supposed misfortunes as we stepped into the elevator. He said to me, "well at least you have your rain boots."

Ha ha ha.

Rain never touched those boots for the rest of the day.

Yesterday, I wore them with my coat and neck thingie I made last month I think. I really appreciated them yesterday as I saw some people less fortunate and those who didn't anticipate getting cold rain at that be fully exposed to the storm. On my ride home, I sat on the last train and a woman sat next to me. At the start I didn't realize she was a lady because I didn't look at her. I don't like people sitting next to me on trains because of one dude trying to molest me and others striking up crazed conversation devoid of sanity and sense, my past self trying to appease others. Now I feel far from it.

This lady had an odor of liquor and dirt and she was falling asleep which meant that she might fall asleep leaning on me. But know I still thought she was a man at this point. In the past I would not recoil. In the past I would be kinder in thought to people like her. I went through some mess involving people like her that no one would believe and that is part of why I felt the way I did on that train yesterday.

I  did move when she leaned on me which startled her awake and helped her reajust. Then my thoughts turned to my beautiful wool toggle coat (second day worn like the boots) is getting ruined. I fought those thoughts because NONE of them were Christ like.  I fought the thought that she might vomit whatever liquor she had to have consumed on my hunter boots, oh what would I do!?

I fought the urge to poke at her with my umbrella instead of tapping her politely on the shoulder to let her know I need to get off the train when my stop arrives. I ended up doing neither, but started planning my escape. I tried waking her before we arrived because by now I realized she had a cane And wasn't moving anywhere fast. When she woke up, I realized she was a woman and the liquor smells were coming strong from her. I was polite and didn't come at her in a way I would regret. But I do regret my thoughts, my heart towards her when I rode the train.

I need to work on this and I am thankful that even the uncomfortable moments were brought to me. We go about feigning perfection as Christians and we are far from it.

My testimony is that God thought it fit to work on my humility issue. He is still working on us all and will present us with situations every day to challenge us, fix us, and reveal His love and concern not only for our lives, but the lives of those with shame I will say that we at times "despise" without any worthy reason.

So no matter what your hangup is, know that God will help you work on it.

It seems when I have humility issues, I get pooped on, splashed by dirty water, or sit in something nasty.  I forgot to mention that as I went into the office, I noticed bird poop on my umbrella where I handled the closure strap. So that meant bird poop was on my hand and who knows where else.

Praise and Thank God that He does these things. I am not better than His other children.

I called this testimony, In The Middle of the Sargasso because I just learned there was a sea in the middle of the ocean after glancing at a weather map. I've always looked at maps and love geography, but never came across this. The Sargasso sea is a sea without any coastal borders and remains relatively calm despite the turbulent waters that surround it. I compare my experience yesterday with it as one that had me warm, protected, and of a calm mood when I walked around in stormy weather. I had minor issues that God worked on with the train ride. I was at peace for the entire day and I am thankful for that. I was at peace like the Sargasso.

May you be at peace like the Sargasso for today and the new week to come.

Happy Sabbath  :)