But you know what's nice about all of this, is that you can always rest assured that God never gives you more than you can handle. …
Never. …
Never. When you've had it, God goes “All right, that's it.”

I just keep picturing God going, “You know what? I think she can take a little more.”
Then the angels are standing back and saying, “God! What are you doing? You're out of your mind!”
And God was like, “No, no, no. I really think she can handle this.”

Tig Notaro — Live

Shortly after being diagnosed with cancer, comedian Tig Notaro walked onstage and started her routine with “Good evening, hello. I have cancer. How are you?”

I keep coming back to this, as I think about the “troubles” that have been thrown my way. I think about a program friend, with years of solid recovery, who says “I don't have any more bad days. Difficult days. Challenging days. Yes. But no bad days.” It is a matter of attitude.

I have had some difficult days in the last few months. Times when I was feeling pretty crazy, when I was not “working my program” effectively, when I felt out of control and frantic. Times when I felt the universe was stacked against me. But as my life has unfolded following those experiences, I have found that I am learning and growing as a result. Some events that I could only see as negative at the time, have resulted in outcomes for which I am extremely grateful.

So, can I “take a little more”? Apparently so.

As Tig ended her show, “I guess God is right, I can handle this.”

A meditation for August 18, 2013.