Day 3 - ROOM FOR CHRIST

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Day 3 of The Advent Series - ROOM FOR CHRIST - is here:

http://maninthemaze.blogspot.com/2011/12/room-for-christ.html

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NEED A WARM PLACE TO STAY?

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 A Prayer for Warmth
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I'm outside enough year-round to know a little

something about the difference twenty degrees can make. For the most part - not so much.

The difference between 92 degrees and 72 is the difference between hot and comfortable, fair enough. But find a place in the shade with a cool breeze and 92 is not usually impossibly unbearable.

The difference between 72 and 52 is even less a difference - the difference between pleasant and slightly cool. No big deal. Put an extra shirt or jacket on.

The difference between 52 and 32 is still not that great. Sure, you need to put on a jacket and an extra layer or two and you'll be okay.

But, the difference between 32 degrees and 12 degrees - 20 degrees below freezing - is a huge difference. You move from merely cold to literally freezing. Your hands stiffen and turn dry and red. Your cheeks sting and you can tell immediately if you don't have enough socks on your feet. This is the sort of cold that hurts.

However, walking half an hour or an hour through this sort of weather is not unbearable, IF you're prepared for it. Today is one of those days. I wore three layers of shirts and three layers of jackets. I had a cap on my head and extra longjohns and socks on to keep my legs and feet warm. Thus prepared, it's just a slightly brisk walk - and that, from a heated home to a heated office. Not that big of a deal.

Having said that, every day on my way to work, I walk past my homeless brothers and sisters. I pass by the mental health agency where shivering, marginalized souls suffer outside the doors, waiting for the office to open. I pass by the folk who stay at the homeless shelters as well as the homeless who camp out.

I see their suffering, dry skin and frozen noses and know that there is a world of difference in twenty degrees. I recognize the huge difference in taking a short-lived walk from warm building to warm building and in standing - just standing - waiting in the bitter cold. Waiting for a chance to get in some place warm and welcoming (hard to come by, that). Waiting for warmer weather, which is MONTHS away, not minutes.

Wondering if you'll live to see Spring's thaw again.

So today, I lift up a prayer for our homeless friends, to our mentally ill friends, to all those out suffering especially on these coldest days. I lift up a prayer of thanks for Diane, for Donna, for Sally's and VOA and Jeff Street and all those places and people who offer a warm cup of coffee and an open door into a warm respite.

"For I was cold, and you offered me a jacket and a warm place to stay."

Amen.

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Dan Trabue

Louisville, Kentucky

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A PRAYER FOR THE ADDICTS

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From the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer

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O blessed Lord, you ministered to all who

came to you: Look with compassion upon all

who through addiction have lost their health

and freedom. Restore to them the assurance

of your unfailing mercy; remove from them

the fears that beset them; strengthen them

in the work of their recovery; and to those

who care for them, give patient understanding

and persevering love.
 Amen.

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For more prayers on this subject,

including a Prayer to Seek Drug Treatment,

a Blessing for a Person in Recovery,

and more -go here:
http://www.suite101.com/content/prayers-for-drug-addiction-a155106

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CARING FOR THE CAREGIVER

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When a caregiver operates on little sleep
and seldom receives backup, burnout results.

The burnout can cause a double problem

because then two people need care.
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.The number of caregivers worldwide

has reached an all time high.

According to a 2008 report by the Fisher

Center Alzheimer's Research Foundation,

there were, at that time, approximately a

million caregivers just for those with

Alzheimer's disease. That doesn't include

caregivers for any other illnesses.

Baby Boomers are inching into senior

citizen territory as well as retirement

(self-imposed or otherwise). Not only

are many of them, caring for parents

buta rising number are in need

of care themselves.

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The scenario demonstrated by flight

attendants for decades is just as true

with caregiving: The able bodied need to

first put on their oxygen masks, literally

or figuratively, then help others.

In order to give the best care, it is

optimal if the caregiver is in a good place

emotionally, physically, and mentally.

Caregiving responsibilities carry with

them built in challenges.

With help, caregivers can be

even more productive taking care

of those who depend on them.

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Respite can be found in a number of

places such as volunteer organizations,

family, friends, churches and spiritual

groups, and senior centers.

Some groups offer weekend respite,

allowing the caregiver to take a mini

vacation away from the caregiving site.

Even just a few hours away can work

wonders to calm a caregiver's mind,

making it possible to return to the job at

hand with a fresh outlook.

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Little things mean so much.

Caregivers are often so busy with the

people in their charge that they forget

to slow down and reward themselves

occasionally. Taking a minute to say

"Thank You" to a caregiver can light up

a day. Dropping by with coffee and

muffins is one way to start off a

caregiver's day on the right foot.

Perhaps neighbors can collaborate

and alternate making supper for the

caregiver and family once a week or

making a few days' supply to be

frozen for later use. Stopping by to

clean a bathroom or do a few loads

of laundry are some ways to help out

that don't cost any money but can be

invaluable to a person who has his

or her hands full with caring for

someone else on a full-time basis.

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Kathleen Klein

caringfortheaged.suite101.com

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