The Grace of Unanticipated Routines

Last updated on: September 7, 2019 at 7:26 am by Christie Purifoy

The Grace of Unanticipated Routines 2019-09-07T07:26:10-04:00 Christie Purifoy

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

When I write about cultivating glory, of course I imagine myself in the role of cultivator. I picture myself as the active one, the one doing the work, the person in control of shaping her days and shaping her life and shaping her place.

Illness will knock you right off that pedestal. And illness comes to everyone now and again.

It came to me at the end of July, I was worn out by work (good work!) and so a chest cold triggered my asthma before fall allergies piled on.

I thought my healing would come with time, but apparently it needed time plus a caring doctor and a pile of new medications and treatments–so many medications, in fact, that taking them in the appropriate amounts at the appropriate times has become the new rhythm of my days.

And rather than feeling burdened or bothered, as I might have predicted, I feel held as if by some unseen hand and some new grace.

I write a great deal in this space about the rhythms of our lives and of the natural world.

I try, as much as possible, to keep my living in step with the seasons in every sense. I love my routines, but I also love that they shift with the shifting earth. My summer mornings are not like my winter mornings.

But there are other kinds of seasons in life, aren’t there?

Seasons of health and seasons of sickness. Seasons of abundance and seasons of drought. Noisy seasons and quiet ones. Seasons of movement and seasons of stillness.

And like you, I imagine, I have my preferences. I love the beauty and swift changes of spring and fall. I would rather be strong and healthy than sick.

But there is a grace in the quiet darkness of winter, and I am finding a grace in the daily routines of pills and inhalers.

Have you ever been held in unexpected ways?

What is shaping time for you as summer shifts to fall?

Previous Post

August 31, 2019

When Building Up Begins with Tearing Down

Next Post

September 21, 2019 Right Here, Right Now

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category autumn Beauty Books Food Garden Glory Grace Grief Lent links peace Placemaker prayer Roots and Sky Spring Summer Uncategorized Winter

Select a Month November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I destroyed the world but saved eight people and many animals in a floating vessel. What am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

A great storm The deluge The flood God's judgment