Pastor Meg spoke of things happening to us that do not fit the story we have constructed in our minds. We expect one result of our future plans, and another greets us. At times, we are moved from our sense of place. We thrash about for the cornerstone. Unexpected change causes many boats to crash on the rocky coast.

I have seen many colleagues plan assiduously for retirement and never reach it. Others said faithfully that when they retired, they were going to travel only to be stymied by poor health. I have been able to travel some and felt a victory when I arrived at my destination. Life has no owner’s manual and no guarantees. Hope is the star guiding the way.

I vividly recall MJ advising me that Building Services was a good job at Southern Illinois University @ Carbondale.
The entry-level position was Building Service Worker I, which is a janitor. MJ was a school teacher, and I asked her if that was all she thought I was qualified to do. She told me that BSWI was one of the higher-paying jobs on Campus. I took a civil service exam and scored 100. Soon, I secured an interview and was hired. I doubled my pay. There were several promotional levels in the organization. Over 32 years and two months and three weeks, I spent 25 years in management/administration. My narrow view of my future was expanded.

I did not imagine my mom and dad’s divorce until it happened. I was 5 years old. Mom and I went from having whatever we needed and often wanted to standing in line for Commodities in Eldorado. Commodities had powered milk. The powdered milk made me sick. I saved up my pennies until I had a dime and went a street over to purchase a glass of cold, whole milk. I could not believe my good fortune when I began school at Hillcrest, whereupon break we lined up for a glass of very cold milk and could have seconds if we hurried.

Hope is a comfort in change. The understanding that our worst days and our best are in God’s Plan. As I look down the tunnel of the past, I see my Guardian Angel with me.