Strange but True

When I was gently and persistently nudged by dear Sam into writing what now is termed, “Betty’s weekly Nuggets”, I had stopped writing for quite some time, and hadn’t thought of going back to it, let alone go beyond one nugget. With my retirement platter already almost full with my pre-retirement activities, I did not feel the need to undertake another pursuit. I guess I was trying to resist the idea of letting my “cup runneth over”. But as you, dear reader, are witness, via these nuggets on tellmystory, God sure had other plans for me. He always does; and doesn’t even feel the need to ask my permission!

 

When I look back at my life, it is crystal clear that mine was the most unplanned. I just went with the flow. The third of seven, I was loved and nurtured, accepted as I was but in constant need of the “Shepherd’s staff” treatment, going through teenage with all its growing pains, growing up with my fair share of beautiful moments and heartbreaks, landing a job that soon became my Calling in a place (Madurai) I never knew existed, to ‘rising’ in love with the “gem of a man” God brought into my life, to having our two sons! Life sure was fine, but like everyone else’s, there were times when I felt like a fragile vessel bobbing on the choppy seas of life. Sometimes the currents of life seemed strong and swift, the waves too high, heavy and harsh for any further forward movement, the still sea sometimes beguiling, disarming. Life flowed on, or so I thought… till somewhere along the way, I came to realize what I had always known but cared not to admit it – that each little triumph, every escape from the engulfing waves of life wasn’t so much my doing as it is to humbly acknowledge that God blesses an honest effort. 

 

My life, or for that matter anyone’s, is but a microcosm of the vast majority of human life on earth. Trials and tribulations are merely one side of the coin. The other – like most part of my life – an abundance of all that is good! And these blessings are not because we ask for them. They are bestowed on us even though we don’t deserve them. Which brings me back to my weekly fare – the nuggets that tellmystory puts out there for all to read, reflect, share. When my first, “Raven Rhapsody”, was done and dusted, I thought that was it, that I had done a friend a favour, little realizing that it was, in reality, the other way round. I see the writing on the wall, as clear as day, that tellmystory is God’s channel of blessing to me, to all – those that write and those who read on this portal. Had it not been for dear Sam’s persuasion, I would not have known that I could breathe life into my charmingly checkered past on a page! I also never, in my wildest dreams, ever thought that I could contribute a nugget/vignette every single week; yet here I am into my 40th! 

 

Now please do not ask me how I go about finding a topic each week, because, even I do not know what I am going to write about. Know why? Well, here comes the reason – in this week’s “Strange but True”! What hadn’t occurred to me in the early weeks of writing my nuggets, soon became all too clear that sometime during the week (midweek or later in the week), a title would flash into my mind along with all that is needed to flesh it out – incidents, episodes, escapades, adventures, misadventures, people and places, they all just fall into place as soon as I put pen to paper. Am deeply in love with the old-fashioned way of writing! Many a time, I find that my stories write themselves, anywhere, anytime. “Armchair Travelling” for example, was conceived on Tambaram station and birthed enroute to Madurai, on a Friday! I had no clue that I was going to write this week’s nugget until the afternoon of Wednesday, when, and I know for a certainty, God, through the Holy Spirit’s promptings led me to it. Sometimes it can be as late as a Friday noon/night, and I’d be lying if I tell you that at those times I am not rattled, because I am; who wouldn’t, right? But know my dear reader that God never lets anyone down. Neither you nor me. Ever. He is the God of every hour, and, definitely, the God of the 11th hour! We just need to believe with all our being that God makes all things beautiful in His time. Strange though it may seem to some of you, it is oh so True!