JOY!

I had the best weekend! Despite new COVID restrictions, and rain and all the things that are wrong, I found joy. On Friday, I had wine with my friend Lesley. We teach together, so we figure we have each other's germs. It's a hard, hard time to be a teacher and the staff room is closed which means no venting with other teachers. But I have Lesley. Since we've known each other for 20 years, we can be totally honest and open and that is such a relief.

On Saturday, I spent the whole day with Serene. We walked and talked for hours in Pacific Spirit Park and it was lovely, especially since the rain held off. We had lunch at Burgoo and coffee at Caffe Artigiano. She is my one friend if I have to choose just one according to Dr Henry's new rules. She is my support, my shoulder to cry on, the person who makes me laugh, the person who asks me challenging questions that (annoyingly) make me think for days, my best friend.

On Sunday, we went to church as a family and that was the icing on the cake. I actually love that there is no Sunday school because it means that the whole family sits together. The worship was amazing (even while wearing a mask). Pastor Brett finished the sermon series on Lamentations. I love that my church would choose to preach through such a difficult and yet so timely book of the Bible. We serve a God who remembers, reigns and restores. Could there be a better message for today? I left church on cloud nine. I'm so, so grateful for my church; every Sunday fills me up to face the week ahead.

In the evening, Emmi and I decorated the Christmas tree. It's way too early, but I don't care. Staring at the lights on the tree brings me joy. Next week at church we start a series on Advent, looking forward to Christmas. Yes, it will look different. Yes, I will miss Christmas concerts and parties and markets. But, Christmas will still be full of joy because I will choose joy and because Jesus came.

Eeyore

 It occurred to Pooh and Piglet that they hadn't heard from Eeyore for several days, so they put on their hats and coats and trotted across the Hundred Acre Wood to Eeyore's stick house. Inside the house was Eeyore.

"Hello Eeyore," said Pooh.

"Hello Pooh. Hello Piglet," said Eeyore, in a Glum Sounding Voice.

"We just thought we'd check in on you," said Piglet, "because we hadn't heard from you, and so we wanted to know if you were okay."

Eeyore was silent for a moment. "Am I okay?" he asked, eventually. "Well, I don't know, to be honest. Are any of us really okay? That's what I ask myself. All I can tell you, Pooh and Piglet, is that right now I feel really rather Sad, and Alone, and Not Much Fun To Be Around At All. Which is why I haven't bothered you. Because you wouldn't want to waste your time hanging out with someone who is Sad, and Alone, and Not Much Fun To Be Around At All, would you now."

Pooh looked at Piglet, and Piglet looked at Pooh, and they both sat down, one on either side of Eeyore in his stick house.

Eeyore looked at them in surprise. "What are you doing?"

"We're sitting here with you," said Pooh, "because we are your friends. And true friends don't care if someone is feeling Sad, or Alone, or Not Much Fun To Be Around At All. True friends are there for you anyway. And so here we are."

"Oh," said Eeyore. "Oh." And the three of them sat there in silence, and while Pooh and Piglet said nothing at all; somehow, almost imperceptibly, Eeyore started to feel a very tiny little bit better.

Because Pooh and Piglet were There.

No more; no less.