Casting Nets
The little things often go unnoticed

Often some of the greatest lessons in life come at times most unexpected.

For example, last Sunday morning at about 2:00 a.m., the dreaded effects of the "summer flu" struck with all its ferocious arsenal.

With worship scheduled in eight hours, I knew I was in an impossible situation. As early as I thought respectful, I called the Senior Deacon of our church and shared my situation with him.

With his usual calmness, and his proficiency at getting things done, he handled everything without a problem. The lesson? None of us are indispensable. But more importantly, I had an opportunity to hear sounds inside and outside the house.

As I sat in the darkness, waiting for the morning to arrive, I heard the creakings of the house, the frogs making themselves unpopular with their noises, police sirens out on Route 98, a car going through the neighborhood dropping off newspapers, the click that proceeds the air conditioning either coming on or going off, the whirring of the ceiling fan, the ice maker discharging its newly formed frozen cubes, plus after making numerous treks to the bathroom could hear the reservoir refilling itself.

It was fascinating sitting there listening to all these noises that occur all the time, but so often happen without recognition. I would not have chosen to entertain the "flu bug" in my system, however, from that experience, I became aware of sounds that had become acceptable everyday occurrences.

Often it is those unexpected experiences that cause us to stop and become more aware of all that is happening around us.

Now that I've had that early morning sensitivity experience, I'm hoping the lesson will last for a lifetime!