5-Minute Vacations

"Photo: Brian Stansberry/Creative Commons"

The sky had an orange hue this morning. Low lying fog hugged the Smoky    Mountains. In a lull between storm systems, a ray of sun broke through the ominous cloak of wispy clouds. While driving in my car, I zipped down the windows and met a strange mix of cool-warm air. I inhaled deeply.

A spirit of thankfulness came over me. “Thank you, God, for this fresh air!” Then I passed skunk road-kill that putrefied things a bit. Ah, such is life…it’s complicated. But that odor didn’t last long. Unpleasant things always pass. They always do. I waited it out, and sure enough I was embraced by fresh air once more. In that moment I could actually hear myself think—and all I wanted to do was thank God for that 5-minute vacation.

Prayers impart strength. Mini vacations, sanity.