As the dust is settling, so to speak,
from the end of another job, I am once again faced with "what now"?
What will I do next to supplement our income, or afford happy anticipation of
waking each morning to the day's activities. Limbo is not a state I cherish, as
I am one who respects knowledge of what waits around the corner. I do not like
the unknown. In fact surprises scare me.
Take for example, my brother Richard.
He is three years my senior and as young siblings, we were close enough in age
to annoy each other. Unfortunately for me, this little sister spooked easily.
Richard took great personal pleasure and entertainment in frightening me. Our
childhood home sat on the corner of Llano and Holland Avenues in Port Neches,
TX. A unique feature of the house was a small closet-sized enclosed back porch.
A sort of dropping ground for dirty work clothes or anything my mom didn't want
inside. The little porch was also the passage through which people entered into
the house and our kitchen. As night fell, I often entered the back porch with
caution because my brother, Richard, might be lurking just inside to scare the
snot out of me. I was not a fan of the, "Surprise!"
Arriving home from church at night, the
little porch and the inside of our house were dark. Richard jumped out of the
car, racing ahead of us disappearing inside of the house. With a furrowed brow,
sighing, I knew he was up to no good. As any little sister having been accosted
numerous times before knows, one learns to expect the unexpected out of a big
brother. He turned on no lights so as to set a spooky mood, making my entrance
onto the porch room dark and creepy. Slowly, the screen door screeched as
I opened it with anticipation of his antics. As I tiptoed inside the enclosed
porch, I squinted to see any movement and called out to Richard, "You
better not be hiding!" When I was certain my brother was not there, I knew
he would be waiting for me inside the house. Touching the back door leading
into the kitchen, I inched the knob around in my hand, cautiously pulling back
on the door. To the immediate right of the kitchen door was my parent's bedroom
and it was there that Richard often stalked his prey. My heart racing, I held
my breath and, "BOO!" Richard yelled, jumping out at me like phantoms
in a spook house. It never failed to frighten me and my screams only fueled
Richard's laughter with delight at my jumping fear.
Even though my brother's practical
jokes were innocent, childish fun, to this day as a grown, almost senior
citizen adult, the fear of the unknown still scares me. (By the way, Richard
has outgrown playing practical jokes on me.) This state of Limbo or uncertainty
is like anticipating a surprise. When the next venture comes around, I hope I
laugh and feel fulfilled by whatever job or project comes. My God alone knows
what lurks around the corner and I have to believe that with Him all things are
possible. He will lead me through the darkness and on him I can rely. Years of
Sunday school pay off when we are in Limbo. Maybe my physical daddy is smiling
down on me as I recall Psalm 23 that he took the time to help me memorize as a
child. It is often these words of my Lord's encouragement that flow through my
mind in times of uncertainty.
Psalm 23
King James Version (KJV)
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He
maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He
restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's
sake.
4 Yea,
though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou
preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my
head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely
goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in
the house of the Lord forever.
 |
| My brother, Richard Lee Ritchey and me. Sept. 2012 |
