It’s been a month and change since the pediatrician told us our girl should be out of the car seat and into a booster. We have one of those convertible ones, but had long-since lost the directions on how to convert between the car-seat and booster. I looked on-line for instructions, but found that the company has to email those. A request was made but never answered. Again, it’s been weeks.

But today I needed that booster. I was in a friend’s car with two car seats in the back, and no room for my 4-yr-old’s car seat. But a booster would fit. So even though my husband had looked at & fussed with the seat and deemed it impossible, I decided to take a second shot.

Initially I had considered just putting her in the front seat for the 10-minute drive, but in a moment of clarity, I asked God to help me with a solution. Booster almost immediately came to mind. But, I argued, I don’t know how to convert it. So I said to myself, Angeline, just get the seat out of my car and God will show me how. I poked around with it maybe 5 minutes and saw what needed to be done. But then ran into a couple of snags. The worst: I wasn’t strong enough to pull out the axis bar. Again, a prayer, and again a solution (moving the seat out of the reclined position, the bar FELL right out). Total time, maybe 15 minutes.

I had faith that God would give this to me, and a doubt didn’t enter into my mind. Instead, one idea after another popped into my head on how to make this work. It was just so exciting and amazing. My girl, who had been watching, was intrigued at how thrilled I was. And it was marvelous to tell her, first-hand, that all things are possible with God.

From the Sunday Magazine in the Washington Post (which I still read on-line even though I don’t live there any more, although you can see I get around to it a little later than I might have when it came to my door). This is from Rabbi Jeffrey Wohlberg, in the First Person Singular column, where a local is given a format to talk about their life:

…I think spirituality is a complicated word. Often it can mean something very superficial. I think in the American context, as I look around, people want simplistic answers to complex questions; they want immediate answers to very difficult and challenging questions. They want things to fit neatly into a package. And they want religion to fit that way, and spirituality to fit that way, and they use spirituality as a kind of a code word. And I think it's misunderstood. I'm also concerned that we in America -- people speak about us as being very religious, but I think we're very superstitious. Because people want things to happen in magic ways. They want to say the right prayer, at the right time, in the right way, and they want it to be magic and the answer to come out the way you put the right coin in the right slot of the slot machine, and then you get all the benefit. It doesn't work that way.

I've changed my mind.  My original thoughts on this matter are not important for Chicken, really, and they might hurt her feelings.  So I've since edited.  Here's what's left.

Oh chicky-Chicken.

I am not "deeply religious". Like you, like most, I struggle with faith, struggle to know God and what possible relationship I could possibly have with this all-giving Life Force. I do tend to see most quandaries and dilemmas in a God-related way, because that just works for me, and tends to lead me toward peaceful solutions. I highly recommend it, not because I think you’d go to Hell otherwise, but just for the Peace it can bring...

God’s given you blessings. ... Well, you’re ignoring that God loves you, God appreciates you, and you are special to God. And your family (mom and sister, particularly), and your friends (like Suzan, ...)

...If you value peace, you have to work for it. Peace is not a feeling you get from not caring. That’s apathy. Apathy for ourselves and our fellow people is not what Jesus taught, nor any great spiritual leader for that matter. And apathy decays your spirit, leaves you feeling gray. The zest and love of life comes from Loving others, serving others, and finding whatever else it is that motivates and thrills you.

...

...Might I suggest you do something radical? You’d mentioned the Peace Corps before. How about Teach for America?; Or going out to an Indian reservation to teach; Or getting involved with a Catholic Mission to teach in low-income places; Or look into doing civilian work for a Catholic Sisters Order. You worry that your Mom might not approve? Well, you think she could overcome your death so I’m guessing she could probably stand to part with you for a few years while you find a purpose for your life.

I’ve been through a dark period in my life (after the suicide of my oldest brother, which might help explain my interest in you and your personality. You two were a lot alike) and I certainly do understand what it’s like to be suicidal. I understand that you’re so narrowed in focus that the last thing you’re thinking about is how your death would play on others. It’s total misery and you just long for escape. But since you say that you’re not suicidal now, you should show a little respect for those who love you and accept that your life is important to them. Now you need to make it important to you.

I have lived in this neighborhood for about 7 years, but I’m only now starting to know some of the people who have been here forever. Yesterday I had a conversation with one woman I particularly like, and was surprised to hear the story of her immediate neighbor, let’s call her Maggie. It seems that Maggie has been divorced and widowed, and during her single years, she slept with 5 or more married men. Men in our neighborhood, most on her own block. My friend suspects Maggie even slept with her now-x-husband (and with good cause!). It was a real eye-opener of a story.

Ahh, neighborhood gossip. Now I know some intimate details of someone’s life I have no business knowing anything about. I guess I should have declined hearing about it, gently changed the subject. That would be the Christian thing to do, right? But, mmm, I love those juicy stories. However, I will refrain from judging Maggie (especially considering I don’t know her) and I won’t keep my own husband from talking to her at community functions, as my friend suggested. Although I suspect I would keep an eye on them. Hm, maybe it’s impossible to refrain 100% from judging.