R & R for Sunday, February 27th, 2011

R and R Tip #38 : Rest repairs our souls.

All of us face storms in our lives at some time or another. The following story is one I have read over and over again because it reminds me where true peace is found when the winds of trouble blow.

Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops.

As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals. Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. Are you a good farm hand? the farmer asked him. Well, I can sleep when the wind blows, answered the little man.

Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work.

Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!

The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows. Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.

Like the hired hand in the story, when you prepare yourself well before the storms of life arrive, you can face them with confidence knowing that ultimately you have nothing to fear

We certainly feel the burdens of life's storms; our path is often like an obstacle course of troubles.

Showers were forecast for the day, so I had my umbrella with me. After I had been walking for a while, the rain began, a light shower at first and then a drenching rain. Almost everyone ran for cover. I continued my walk, along with a couple of other brave souls, umbrellas in hand as the water splashed around our feet. I was prepared.

Rest and Relaxation are two very good ways to prepare yourself for those storms that may come along. If we are frayed and frazzled by the everyday tasks at hand then we will be too tired to take care of the unexpected . The storms of life come when we least expect them and we need to be the best we can be when they do.

Rest, Relax!

See you all next Sunday!

Love, Live, Laugh and Be Happy!

ma