Re-entering the World

"Sometimes," our friend Kristen used to say, "just surviving is excelling."

We have survived, thrived even, and know that God will help us even when there are those who are desperate and make decisions that hurt others. We recently had our 90 days celebration--90 days since any work was performed on our house and no bills have come in. No more liens can be placed against the Hermitage. The week before our 90 days one supplier approached us with a bill for material that had been charged to our job but was invoiced long after that contractor had finished working for us. "I'm sorry," he said. "I used your money to pay other bills."

We lawyered up, provided documents, sweated, and prayed. On day 88 the supplier called, said the contractor had admitted he'd lied. "I'm sorry," he called us again, "I'm in deep trouble and didn't know what to do." These are the times that try men's hearts in diverse ways. The miracle of mercy is that in the last hours, wrongs can be righted, and lashing out can become a plea for help. Human's are miraculous being with immense capacity for compassion, for forgiveness, for healing, for joy.

We are home. As of this week we have internet and no television programming. We can get Dances with the Stars on a little portable black and white antennaed thingy. I lay on the bed and turn it on its side to watch. Our hero Susan Boyle is on You-Tube and we are catching up on Flight of the Concord.

It's a great time to be alive.