There are days when the world is just too much to think about and I put my head down and just do the work in front of me.

It’s a family trait to carry ourselves through the world as if we can outwork every problem. Our confidence comes from having done just that on so many fronts. No one looking at the lot of us today can have the slightest idea of what we’ve come out of. We’re all a bunch of damn miracles. Our lives could have been defined by our circumstances- poverty, ignorance, alcoholism and a lot more. But for a few “grace of god” turns and twists, and our willingness to just do the work in front of us we wouldn’t have so much to celebrate. And so much that we share with others.

Still, much about life is hard. Losses pile up and there are heartbreaks that cannot be outworked. And early in the morning I sit with these feelings as things I’ve worked on come unraveled and things I cared about just fade away. No matter how sad I feel, I don’t regret the work or time or effort I put into doing good work. I was made for it.

I do think there is a season coming where my days won’t be shaped by what we normally think of as work but I can’t imagine not being busy. Perhaps it will be a more joyful and peaceful form of work.

I wrote this for me and for everyone else changing seasons.