I get a bit of a break today. ‘Bout time. I read the other day that many don’t adhere to Lent on Sundays. I have been, primarily because I don’t attend church, and I have a whole bunch of people to pray for! I need every day. All I had to do today, besides pray, was meet my selected friend for breakfast (at my favorite breakfast joint) and get to work on time. That last part is easier said than done. But I was close enough if it came to horseshoes or hand grenades. AND I was a whole minute EARLY to IHOP. So that counts for something, right?

The prayers are simple. I am to pray for her friends and family that are facing trials and tribulations. I was thinking on the way up the road this morning that we ask for a lot of things, but when we’re sick, that always rockets to the top of the list. When you’re sick, truly sick, not one other thing matters. You just want to be well. So I’ll pray for those first, and probably a bit more fervently in my mind. I don’t know what the rest of her tribe is going through, but I imagine it’s just life. Life can be daunting. I attended a funeral once, I think it was Joe Woods’, and the preacher said, “You’re either going through a trial, just got through one, or fixin’ to go through another.” That’s the God’s truth! Seems like you barely get recovered when you’re slammed with something else. That’s why I recommend yoga. It gives you a few moments of peace, anyway, to sort and box up all your thoughts and concentrate your energy on this one thing. Your mind will drift, but you crave that clarity that you had for just a moment and you’ll make your way back. Every time you do yoga, you get a little better at turning off the constant stream of Everything Else. Pack it up, you can unpack what’s important later. And all the stuff you started with and boxed away diminishes in importance after a session, so you’re not longer intimidated by this great big pile of crap you thought was so essential to your day. You gain perspective on what you can change, and what was just worry that isn’t helping anybody. And that’s all I’m gonna force on you today.

Lord I come to you with a strong heart and mind to ask you to restore, to heal, to protect those who are hurting today. I pray for my friend Donna, that she may be a comfort to those who depend on her. May she serve as a listening ear and warm hand to those who need her. I thank you for Donna, as she has always been a good friend to me. I know she has the ability to soothe the mind and offer good advice. She is caring and sensitive and loves all your creatures. I hope that her friends and family appreciate her and know how wonderful it is to have her in their life, on their side. I pray that your wisdom be bestowed on those at a crossroads, show them the way. The truth and the life is with you only, Lord, and if we look towards you all the time, we will not be steered wrong. I pray for those with broken hearts to be mended, and those dreading going to the doctor or getting results to be comforted and strengthened by You. I pray that they seek wisdom only through you. I also pray for a new colleague to be a quick study and an honest employee. I pray that she learns the ropes with minimal direction and takes to the new job effortlessly. I pray for Donna’s migraines to diminish, and her horses to comply under her will. All of this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

I met Donna years ago–where else?— at the Co-op, of course. We shared a love of gaited horses and chocolate. I can always depend on her for the honest truth and an ally when it comes to animal rights activists. She’s always thinking of me and others and dropping uplifting cards in the mail. Even her prayers today included none for herself, I ad libbed them. She’s one of those solid souls who brave Gatlinburg every day. A native of Sevier County, we understand each other on a level you don’t find in people who have come here. You can trace generations back and talk about who’s kin to who, and who was neighbors with whom, and just a whole litany of things you only learn by living here your whole entire life. For instance, the Catlett bunch are notoriously tight. There’s a long line of liars and cheats in a certain family that lives out near them. The Hill family always builds rock fences.

Stuff like that.

In conclusion, I’m thankful Donna is in my life, to share in my happiness and despair. I’m also thankful for her pound puppy, Jake, of the soulful eyes and perfect spots. And Kyle, her husband, who always has a Parton grin and a how-do-you-do. They’re good, down home people.