Counting Blessings

The Jesuits have a tradition of before going to bed each night.
They discover a blessing in their day and one thing they would do better.

Today's blessings
1. A new nurse came on board for our hospice team. She is knowledgeable and caring. It will be a blessing to minister with her for our patients and their families.

2. A group of women get together to meditate on the day of the full moon (today). The moon being a symbol of feminine energy. This meeting was to take place on the lake shore here in Chicago. However it was sunshine and a very cold wind off the lake. My intrepid friends decided to meditate from the warmth of their living rooms. So when I arrived I found myself alone on the beach with the Chicago skyline before me. I walked for about an hour wandering through a bird sanctuary created by the City of Chicago and saw warblers, red wing blackbirds, a bunny, robins and starlings. The trees beginning to leaf, the flowering blossom buds waiting for a warmer day to burst into bloom. All of the mystery of creation, all drawing me into the wonder of life we take so much for granted. Each life is precious, each moment of life is precious. I am thankful that this universe, taking 14 billion years to create me, decided to do so. What fecundity, what generosity of our never done evolving universe.

3. I came home renewed and refreshed after my meditation to make a simple supper of salad, sauteed wild salmon, orange slices. Tried to make homemade tartar sauce for the first time but was not happy with the results.

4. A daughter of a hospice patient two years ago called me to "check in." We caught up with each other's lives. It was so good to hear her voice and renew a friendship started on the journey toward death as we held sacred her mother's life. She is still clearing out the household items. I wonder if I will be "clearing out " two years after this death of a relationship.

What I would do differently?
Today I tried to reach out to a patient, it didn't happen. The connection between the two of us didn't occur. I know I cannot minister to all but my heart is sad for this very young adult patient could use all the support possible from the community. He journeys alone toward death. I hold him in my heart and prayers. You do the same.

Nothing from Dow/lawyer about the proposed settlement. He leaves for Florida on the weekend, and I thought for sure I would receive his counter proposal by now. Sent an email to my lawyer.