A few months ago, my Book Club read a delightful book, The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. It’s a family story told through the viewpoint of their dog.

Dh and I had the opportunity to hear the author (who is fairly local) perform a reading last night at the library, and then to hear a Q&A (Patrick Dempsey is involved in the potential movie), and have my book signed by the author. While buying the book prior to the talk (I’d borrowed the copy I’d read) the person from our local independent bookseller recognized me as someone who shops there, gulp and grin!



One of the questions about the book was that this person had taken parts of it in a philosophical way, and wondered if the author meant it to be taken that way. The author’s answer was yes, that he is very much a believer in focusing on the here and now and not on how we got there.

As he was expanding on this theory, it struck me how very Orthodox this is (it is clearly not *only* an Orthodox view point). Our struggle is how do we react to the trials and tribulations of life and to not focus on the “why me” but on the “why not me.” We are often admonished that when we examine our conscience, it isn’t about what others have done, but what we have done.

This morning, the daily reading was :
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: 10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:6-17) which seemed particuarly appropriate. In the words of St. Seraphim of Sarov, “Acquire a peaceful spirit, and around you thousands will be saved.”