If your life is anything like mine, it is more characterized by “ups and downs” than by “smooth sailing.” I much prefer smooth sailing, but that is part of a glorious future called Heaven, so on that I will patiently wait. What I am referring to is the everyday life things that are hurled at us at breakneck speed. We dodge this and dance around that so often that you would think we would be more agile than our stiff old bones allow. I have learned that as life throws “busters” at you, look also for the “blessings.” Let me first define my terms. These are, admittedly, my definitions, but they do work; at least for me. A “buster” is anything undesirable that comes your way; a perceived negative. A “blessing” is that which enhances your life, or makes it better. These two terms are diametrically opposed to one another, yet linked, they can ease the negativity of the buster, and shine the brighter light on the blessing. Allow me to continue with personal examples in hopes of better explaining.

As of the date of my writing this, I have just seen Doc Mauney for the second time and was told my cold was quite possibly pneumonia. I called it an old-fashioned cold, my secretary called it the flu, Doc said tracheal-bronchitis or pneumonia, but whatever you call it this is a buster. I didn’t place an order for this, nor do I want it. I’ve learned a little phrase that helps me put things into place so that I can extract the blessing from the boomer. “It is what it is.” An earlier rendition was life happens, but that left too many people saying, “Huh?” “So how,” you might ask, “do you find a blessing in an illness?” It is a fair question, so let’s back up just a bit to the “it is what it is” phrase. Accept the phrase, but do not linger here. To accept “it is what it is” and stay there is known as fatalism. Fatalism simply stated says, “it is what it is and there is nothing I can do about it.” Here is some good news! You do not have to live in the land of fatalism – you can choose to move on. You do so by saying, “it is what it is, so let’s go blessing hunting.” Yes, I have pneumonia, but there are blessings. One blessing is that as a pastor, there are times that I make many sick calls a week, most of these at one of our area hospitals. As often as I am around sick people, it is a blessing that I am not sick more often than I am, and that it is not too severe when it does happen. Another blessing is that it reminds me of the fine medical care we as Pine Islanders have right here with Dr. Lou Mauney.

Dr. Mauney and his fine staff of Dr. Gillie, Casey, Diane and Courtney have shown the kind of care that as a big city boy I was used to, with the added blessing of our small community “personal touch” that can only be experienced due to the fact of where we live. It is a blessing to hear other respected Lee County physicians say they have great respect for Doc and that he is very likely one of the best diagnosticians in the state of Florida. These are the blessings that I have extracted from my buster. Some call it, “looking on the bright side,” while others might say, “seeing the silver lining behind every cloud.” Call it what you will, but it does make life sweeter. Yes I still have illness, I feel rotten and some days it is a chore to simply lift my head off the pillow, but I choose not to focus on the buster. I focus on the blessings. I believe that by doing so I will recover much more quickly. I do not know of any medical science that addresses that issue but I know I will recover more enjoyably.

Do you have any busters in your life? They do not have to be medical. They can be anything that you are experiencing that you would rather not. They do not necessarily have to be yours. A friend or a loved one might be going through something that is causing you distress. Look for the blessing. You might find several.

Here is a blessing coming your way. On Saturday night, Nov. 21, at 6:30 p.m., The First Baptist Church of St. James City will be hosting The New Day Music Ministry team from Kissimmee, Fla. There is no admission charged, but a free-will offering will be received to help with the group’s travel expenses. You are invited and bring others, too.

If you need a ride, or have any questions, please call the church at 239-283-0982.

Victor Cooper is pastor of the First Baptist Church of St. James City, Fla., located at the corner of Eighth Avenue and Oleander Street (Stringfellow) in St. James City. For service times, see our ad in the churches section of the Eagle and be sure to visit our Web site at www.fbcsjc.com