Tag: control

The Safety of God’s RV

/ colleen arnold / 6 Comments

I have been infatuated by RVs ever since my mom and I wandered into a camper show at our local mall. Surprised at all the amenities that could be squeezed into such a compact space, I explored all the exhibits. By the time we left the show, I was hooked.

It would take years for my dream to come to life, but one day Neil came home from a jobsite practically jumping up and down with excitement. “You are going to be so happy when I tell you what I found!” His enthusiasm was comical – that is, until he told me what he discovered.

“A camper for sale!” he exclaimed. “The kind you drive. With three sleeping areas and in great condition. Hurry – we have to get it before anyone else notices it!” Continue reading →

The Fainting Doctor: Persistence and Humility

/ colleen arnold / 2 Comments

I started fainting in third grade. At Catholic grade school we attended Mass every day during Lent. I could handle the standing, but far too often the kneeling got the best of me, and I toppled over, sometimes hitting my head on the pew, and sometimes just sliding or plopping onto the floor. The first few times, the dear Sisters were worried, but I never got hurt, so after a while, everyone just left me alone. I’d wake up in a few minutes, sit slowly to get my bearings, then participate in the rest of the Mass service.

As I got older, the fainting spells continued, not only from standing and kneeling but from fatigue and anxiety or even the sight of blood. I learned to recognize the signs of impending unconsciousness and was often able to lower myself to the ground quickly enough to prevent loud crashes. It didn’t always work though, and for a kid who wanted to be a doctor, it presented challenges.  My dad said, “You can do anything you set your mind to.” Continue reading →

The Challenge of Sunday Rest

/ colleen arnold / 6 Comments

Relaxation is not something I do well, but lately I’ve been trying to honor the commandment for Sunday rest. I told my oldest daughter about it and she said sarcastically, “Oh, yes, I’ve heard of that concept, Mom; most people call it a weekend!”

It’s not that I do my doctor job on Sundays – I stopped that a long time ago – it’s that I don’t necessarily rest. Neil used to ask me regularly to sit down and relax, but there was always something that had to be done. Sometimes people ask me now, “How can you have so much to do? You live by yourself most of the time when the girls are at school.” That’s true, but there’s even more to do around the house now that I am the only one doing it!

Armed with the plan to accept Sunday rest as a gift from God, I made a list of all the things I could do to relax. I’ll read all those journals on my bedside table, take a walk, call my mom, write some letters. Then it occurred to me that making a list wasn’t really embracing the spirit of rest. Ok, I thought, no list. No plan whatsoever, I’ll just see what the day brings.
Continue reading →

What Other People Think Only Matters If You Let It

/ colleen arnold / 4 Comments

Neil and I had some rough spots over the years. What marriage doesn’t? We tend to suppress those memories or gloss over them in time with a more favorable lens. Recently, I went to a concert that forced me to confront one of those memories.

Twenty some years ago, Neil and I planned to attend a concert at that particular lovely outdoor venue called Lime Kiln Theater. It’s made up of several different  stages hewn out of ancient quarry rocks and man-made refreshment stands where you can buy  beer or a glass of wine. The gates open early so people can bring picnics and relax under the stars before the show. I didn’t get off work that evening until 8 pm, so Neil suggested I meet him there. He got there at least an hour before me and started “relaxing.” He was very drunk by the time I arrived.

He slept in his seat through the whole first half of the concert. He snored forcefully once or twice, but a quick jab with my elbow took care of that. In the middle of the second set, he woke up and loudly announced that it was time to go. Embarrassed, I quietly shuffled along behind him, hunched over so I didn’t obstruct anyone’s view of the show. We left the audience area and had slowly climbed about half way up the path that leads to the parking lot, when Neil decided to take a nap. Yes, right there in the middle of the pine straw path, he laid down on his side, curled into a little ball with his face on a rock and told me, “Night night.”
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Sometimes Life is Not Like a Box of Chocolates

/ colleen arnold / 10 Comments

A baby is finally born after two days of labor as four grandparents anxiously await its arrival.
A bridal shower is celebrated with friends and family in joyful attendance, all the while knowing that in less than a month that bride will move to the other side of the country.
A student graduates from college and says goodbye to closest friends, ready to embrace the real world.
A marriage dissolves as the real world proves too difficult an obstacle.
A young driver totals a car while all involved tremble with gratitude at their safety.

All this in the span of a few days! And a mother prays, because she knows that’s all she can do. She puts all these people and situations in God’s hands.

This is life. Pain and joy happen in rapid succession, sometimes even together in the same situation. Continue reading →