List five important people in your life, not including members of your family of origin. Did anything importable happen to bring you together with these people? Write down any coincidences or synchronicities you can remember. Now, stepping into your social scientist mode, review the list, asking yourself, “What are the odds that this importable event or that particular meetings the result of something bigger than me?
Experts agree that a staggering amount of time is consumed each day by interruptions. Whether at work or at home, a phone call or an unexpected visit can easily deflect us from what we feel is our main purpose.
Not many of us like disruptions in our daily lives, especially when they cause inconvenience or a change of plans. But Jesus treated what appeared to be interruptions in a far different way. Time after time in the Gospels, we see the Lord stop what He is doing to help a person in need.
When our plans are interrupted by someone who genuinely needs help, we can ask the Lord for wisdom in how to respond with compassion. What we call an interruption may be a divine appointment the Lord has scheduled for that day. —David C. McCasland
Lord Jesus, fill us with Your wisdom and compassion that we may respond as You did to people in need.
Reading the query, below I love the columnist’s advice and share it with you in its entirety. I am a firm believeryou don’t have to impress your true friends. I always find it best to be honest, as being opening about your finances will perhaps allow others to feel comfortable enough to do the same. I personally always like to invite friends for walks. The activity is free, and most people just want to catch up. Plus, many individuals are more open to sharing if they don’t have to make direct eye contact with you. Albeit those times that I must meet for meals I try to be considered and pick a place with a happy hour, an inexpensive late night dining option, or a wonderful dessert menu.
Q: I was invited to a friend’s birthday dinner. We’re not close, but we see each other in group settings. The restaurant she chose is a notoriously expensive sushi place. But we’re all in our early 20s. I think it’s unreasonable for her to expect us to shell out so much for her birthday. (Plus, we don’t let honorees pay for their meals, so we’d incur even more expense.) Is it O.K. to bail on this party? I don’t want to make up an excuse, but I don’t want to tell her I’m not coming because of money either. Help! –ANONYMOUS
A: Let me get this straight: You don’t want to tell the truth, and you don’t want to lie. (Are you under the impression that I have magical powers?) It is never wrong to say: “Thanks for inviting me! But I’m on a budget and can’t afford to come.”
Here, your reluctance to speak honestly allows the birthday girl to persist in her mistaken belief that her friends can (or want to) spend upward of $100 on sushi in her honor. How will she learn the truth if you don’t say something?
Mount a wine rack. Yes, you read that right. A rack that holds bottles horizontally can be used to hold extra towels, bath tissues and more. Save one slot for your bath time refreshment- wink wink
There are few things I love more than cake. My family didn’t have much money while living in India, but whenever I asked, “Whose happy birthday is it?” my uncle, Shyam, would say it was his, then splurge on a little slice of cake. Now I live in the United States, in Houston; there is a pandemic and most bakeries are closed. My uncle died alone in a hospital in Hyderabad; he was only 50. All I can do is sit alone in my room, crying, eating cake. I will always love him more than I love cake. — Kaarthika Thakker
