"The key to persevering is what?.....persevering." So goes the saying and I discovered the truth of it when I left my sunglasses, the ones I had just bought, in the hospital cafeteria. That would have been 2 pairs I had lost in a matter of days. So I had to go back and check though it was so late when I noticed them missing. First I was told by security the cafeteria was closed. Then I found the doors locked. But I tried some other doors and finally entered the kithchen. No one there. So I called out a couple of times, and waited. Finally a lady appeared who said she had cleaned the area where I sat and found nothing. She didn't mind me looking anyway so I did and found nothing. I started to walk away but came back inexplicably and just then the lady reappeared holding sungalsses in her hand saying a co-worker had found them. Were they mine? Oh, yes, they were indeed! I was so relieved! I knew I couldn't have justified buying a 3rd pair. Afterward I meditated on the different barriers I had passed in my search. First, security telling me the cafeteria had closed (but still allowing me to pass), second, finding the doors locked,(but continuing to try other doors) third finding no one in the kitchen,(but continuing to call out) fourth hearing that clean up was completed and nothing was found (but being allowed to look anyway), fifth finding nothing myself (but hanging around long enough for the cafeteria lady to find me with what the her co-worker had given her after apparently hearing her mention the matter. There were five places where it would have been easy to turn back but I am so glad I didn't and had the opportunity to re-learn this lesson about the key of perseverance, the one that will lead us through doors to much more in life than sunglasses, as important as those were in that moment. And having said all this, I think it is great to remember and acknowledge the one who outdoes all of us put together when it comes to perseverance toward all our shannanigans, the Father of Mercy Himself!
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