Magic 8-Ball/Steam Bath

One of my favorite authors this past couple years has been William Kent Krueger and his Cork O'Connor series of books set in northern Minnesota. That character, Cork, is a former sheriff solving mysteries with Catholicism and Indian faith thrown in.

Cork has American Indian relatives and friends. I especially enjoy reading about American Indian spirituality. There is a recurring character who is type of medicine man. When there is a most difficult problem - they do a "sweat" and heat up rocks - one rock is called "Old Grandfather" for a sweat lodge. The sweat causes them to have visions or dreams that help them have the grace to go through the hardship they're going through.

I think about this as I sit in the steam room at the Healthy Living YMCA after working out. Recovering from an illness is a spiritual experience for me. Before being diagnosed with Graves' Disease I wasn't sure I'd make it through what ever had me in its grips. That was partly the illness working on me - anxiety is one of the symptoms. Now that I've been diagnosed, I know that this illness is not curable, but is treatable - so I must get my mind around how I'll live well with it.

I've enjoyed having the steam room all to myself nearly every time I've used it this past week. It's dark - with the only light enters through the glass door. It's hot and steamy of course and periodically the "steamer" runs sending more delicious hot moist air into the room which is set up with two levels of tile benches.

I have started thinking of the "steamer" as my Magic 8 Ball. When I question something in my mind...if the steam starts - there's my answer! haha. No not really. But it is a therapeutic place.

Speaking of therapeutic, Judson David visited this weekend.  We didn't see much of Kara who was hanging out with college pals - fun times with longtime friends for her.

Jud went to the ISU game with us. We pre-gamed at Kari and Kevin's house before heading to the parking lot for a bit. I enjoyed meeting their son - he and Jud chatted. We saw Donnie and Marilyn and Dwight plus Phil. The weather was pretty darn nice for mid-November. Too bad the hapless Cyclones couldn't come through with the victory. It was like old times riding in the car with my boys - listening to their sports talk.

We enjoyed see Kara this a.m. before they headed back to St. Louis. Happy that they'll be with us at Christmas.

Deep stuff about loss and death - in a novel

I written before about the author William Kent Krueger - his Cork O'Connor series. I like how he mixes a bit of religion and American Indian spiritualism along with good plots. The characters are likable people - ones you'd like to know.

 

So I was interested when I saw in the New York Times that he had a new book out.

 

 

 

Ordinary Grace - that isn't about Cork and family. I picked it up a couple weeks ago and began reading it Sunday. If you know me, you know I buzz through books quickly - faster than I would like really. That's why I enjoy listening to them so much - readers don't skip words. Anyway - I read the important stuff, and this book didn't disappoint - it had some. I'd like to share it with you.

 

The book is set in the viewpoint of a young boy in a Minnesota town in the early 1960's. So I could relate to the way he described life. His father was a minister - very similar to my family. You know - my dad sold undies. (just seeing if you were paying attention).

 

No spoiler alert - but something bad happens, and the Reverend must preach, despite his own personal sorrow and loss. Here is what he said at a funeral:  

I don’t mean to plagiarize – these are the author's words, if not directly quoted, pretty darn near…

What’s left when that which we love most has been taken?

3 profound blessings – in his first letter to Corinthians, Saint Paul tells us: faith, hope and love. These gifts, which are the foundation of eternity, God has given to us.

We have complete control over them – even in darkest night it’s still in our power to have faith. We can still embrace hope. And though we still may feel unloved – we can be steadfast in our love for others and God.

 

God gave us these gifts and he (she? That's me questioning God's sex...) doesn’t take those gifts back. It is we who choose to discard them.

In your dark night I urge you to hold onto your faith, to embrace hope and to bear your love before you like a burning candle – it will light the way.

 

That's the end of my quotes from that section. Powerful stuff, huh?

 

And later - at the end of the book, there is another character who is a fleeting one, not well developed but on the edges. The main character speaks to him about dead people.

The Indian says to him -

They’re never far from us you know. Who?  

The dead. No more’n a breath. You let that last one go and you’re with them again.

 

How true...how true.