Genesis 2:7 says that Adam was made from the dust of the earth. It's been raining most of the morning. As one of Adam's descendents I guess it makes sense that I would feel like mud today.
I love living in Oregon and yes, I love the rain, usually. Every now and then, like today, it makes me weary. It isn't that there is any particular place I wanted to go that I can't go because of the rain. No, I was just sitting here looking outside and wondering about all of the other people who are wondering if they will ever find a job again.
The longer you go without working the more disturbing it gets. Every now and then the situation washes over you like a sneaker wave. You have to climb back to your feet and just keep trying. I groan thinking about those who still have children living at home. Our four boys are grown, have jobs and are doing well. What a blessing!
Proverbs 8:23-26 says that wisdom is older than dust. If wisdom is older than dust than it stands to reason that it is older than mud too. When you've worked all your life it's hard to explain what not working feels like. When you were working your schedule was full and you knew that day's purpose before you ever arrived at your job. As someone who spent so many years making and following up on assignment lists it's strange now to be staring at a very small list of my own.
In Sleepless in Seattle Tom Hanks, describing life without his wife said, "You get up each day and remind yourself to breathe."
Wisdom reminds me there are many things worse than not having a job. I have a brother and sister-in-law who are in a shelter working their way through a twelve step program. They don't have jobs either, fortunately they have each other.
We're told when it rains it pours. It seems like that when we, the fragile, mortal dust of this earth turn to mud, but wisdom reminds us neither the rain nor the night lasts forever. The rain will stop and dawn will eventually chase the longest night away.
Until that happens it's very important to stay active, keep trying, and trust in wisdom for 1 Peter 5:7 says, "Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you."
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