Sock Darning Time...

I consider myself an even-tempered, open minded and levelheaded woman. After all, I am the one (of my circle of friends) that everyone comes to, in their time of trial and tribulation. Surely that must make me wise or, at the very least, a good listener. Right? Then why did this “sensible” woman spend the last hour trying to move 10 yards of snow that was more than 12 inches deep, with a tiny wooden broom?

Let me start at the beginning: Here in the east coast we are use to snow. Blizzards, smizzards! We aren’t fazed by a snowstorm. We walk, drive and even run in the dang stuff. Some of us actually like it, especially at Christmastime. So when the weatherman said to expect 12 – 18 inches, I didn’t even bat an eye. When I woke up to 12 inches of snow, I grabbed the dog and headed to the backyard for a little snowy playtime. After my boy and I were properly frozen and ready for a hot breakfast, we happily came into our warm home. Sounds great doesn’t it? What’s not to love about a relaxing morning playing in freshly (still falling) snow, without a care in the world? My boy and I thoroughly enjoyed our peaceful winter wonderland.

After several hours of warming myself by the radiator, I decided it was time to shovel the front walk. As I bundled myself in my hat, gloves, scarf and coat, I went in search of my snow shovel. Well, not really a search because I knew where it was all the time. It was at the top of the basement stairs. No! Oh, that’s right, it’s at the bottom of the basement stairs. No again! Hmm? I must have put it in the storage closet in the basement. Nope, not there! Scratching my head with my oversized gloved hands, I tried to remember where I had last seen my snow shovel. That’s when the realization of my neglect truly hit me. I remembered all of the times I had tripped over it last summer, because I hadn’t put it in its proper place. How many times had I cursed my metal friend because it got in my way as I ran out into the summer sun? I suddenly realized just how carelessly I had treated a much need tool in my life.

With no other option at hand, I grabbed a small wooden broom and attempted to sweep away the mountain of snow that lined my front walk. As I unsuccessfully went about my task, I couldn’t help but think of the other tools I’ve neglect in my life because they weren’t needed at the time. I began to wonder how many skills we collectively have lost, because we decided they had no current value. For some reason the image of an old woman darning socks by the light of a roaring fire filled my mind. Darned Socks? Who does that anymore? It is so easy just to buy a new pair at the local Wal-Mart. I started to count the number of holey socks that are pushed to the back of my sock drawer. Hmm?

Okay, maybe you’re thinking darning socks isn’t really a lost skill or tool to cry over. But, isn’t that how all things begin to fall away? We decide what does or doesn’t have value or purpose in our lives. We make our selections and then we mock those who hold onto the things we’ve given away so easily. Maybe that’s because we know we are compromising too much. As a college teacher, I encounter parents who constantly complain about the lack of communication with their children. When I ask about their children’s hobbies or how they spend down time, I’m always surprised by the parent’s reaction. Most of the time I’m shocked to find that the parents have no idea what their children are doing in their own homes. I often hear that children are fad crazy and that there’s no use trying to understand what they like, because it will change the next day. I remembered what one mother had said to me several months ago, “Kid’s fads never last, so why should we spend time trying to follow them?” I knew that was wrong at the time, but it wasn’t until this morning that I knew why! Just because you or I don’t readily see something’s value, doesn’t mean it is valueless or worthless!

The same thing holds true for those things that are seasonal or short-lived. Ice cream is our summertime treat, but it is valued all year long by the ice cream maker. Without the summer sales explosion, the ice cream maker wouldn’t survive through the winter. Our Lord, Jesus Christ, lived 33 short years upon this earth, but His teachings continue to change the world. For those of us who still seek Him, we use that short 33-year life as a building block on which we shape our Christian lives. Short-lived? Yes! Was His life worthless or without value? NO! Most of us wouldn’t even consider thinking, let alone saying something so ridiculous. As Christians we would lift swords and raise our collective voices if someone tried to take away our right to believe and follow Christ. Yet, we make judgments about other people’s beliefs and lifestyles without even blinking an eye. How hypocritical of us!

Perhaps it’s time for all of us, all of humankind, to dust out our sheds and look for our old tools. We each were born with skills (or tools) that were given to us by our creator. Some of us were lucky to have family who helped us perfect those tools and some of us had to learn the hard way on our own, and still some of us are just learning that we have unused skills. Humankind was created to love and learn by harnessing the tools of each other’s skill sets to traverse this world together. Somewhere along the way we forgot the great spirits that live inside of us, and sought the worldly instead of the spiritual. We’ve thrown away the things that mattered only to live in a world that doesn’t see value in humankind.

Today, I saw the value of an old snow shovel, the moment I needed it and it was gone from my sight. I don’t want that to happen to my humanity as well. I’m taking inventory of the things I’ve overlooked or devalued. God has given me plenty of downtime to do this, since the snow is still falling and we’re currently up to 18 inches. (I really miss that old snow shovel!) I plan to spend this time evaluating my behavior and working toward honoring the blessings I’ve been given. Instead of throwing away the tools I’m currently not using, I’m going to exercise those skills by sharing them with someone else. I guess what I’m saying is, I’m going to try to be the human being God intended me to be. Oh, yeah and I’m going to learn how to darn those holey socks that are shoved way in the back of my sock drawer. :-)

Peace,
Imabeliever

Not The Day I'd Planned...

Well I had big plans today! I was going to write and work on my presentation for next week’s workshop, but I didn’t. I slept until 8am, although I didn’t get out of bed until 10am. I wish I could say that I spent the two hours just communing with the Lord, but I didn’t. Today has been a day of sweet reflection and restful thoughts. I haven’t been actively praying, but I’ve been prayerful. I can’t really explain what today is or what I felt when I awoke this morning. Not sadness or happiness, not anything really.

I got out of bed and made my way to the couch, where I sat for another hour. I picked up one of the many books that I’ve yet to finish and read a few chapters. Nothing earth shattering or life changing came from the experience. Then I migrated to the computer, where I read my email, checked today’s news headlines and sent a tweet or two to Twitter.

Two hours later, I felt my stomach complain for lack of food, so I ordered Chinese food. I sorted through the weeks “snail” mail while I waited for the food to be delivered. Thirty minutes later, when the food arrived, I decided to watch a movie. I remembered that I still had my mother’s copy of Mama Mia. I settled back on my comfy couch, ate my favorite Chinese food and mindlessly watched the television set.

Ninety-five minutes later, I cleaned up the living room and washed the dishes, all as I hummed ABBA songs. I noticed the kitchen clock on the wall. “It’s almost 3:30pm and I’ve yet to really do anything!” As soon as the thought crossed my mind, I pushed it away. Not because I felt guilty, because honestly I felt nothing. I was sort of apathetic, which is the complete opposite of my personality. If anything, I’m usually focused on a hundred things, while trying to juggle all those little red balls in the air that someone threw my way.

I decided to play doctor and do a self-evaluation: Feeling Depressed? No! Feeling Unhappy? Nope! Feeling Guilty? Definitely Not! Feeling Stressed? Not in the least! Wait that’s it! I’m not feeling stressed! WOW! I think I’m so used to running at a hundred miles an hour, fighting deadlines and working around time constraints that stress has become a constant companion. An old friend if you will. So today what I’ve been feeling is what? Relaxation? And then it hits me, this is the first Saturday that I’ve had nothing pressing to do in nearly 6 months. I hadn’t even realized that I was missing this. This nothingness. This timelessness. Today was about moments: small moments of just breathing in my own little corner of the world. Over the last 6 months I’d forgotten what it means to just relax. I could get used to this!

It’s nearly 6pm and I feel content, as I write this message to you. Maybe I’m writing it to myself as well, so that I don’t forget the importance of a day like today. A deep sigh of restfulness fills my body, as I plan my agenda for tonight. As I think about the evening laid out before me I remember that I have laundry to do, a sick friend is waiting for me to attend to his needs, and the lawn should be cut before it gets too dark….

Even as my mind dances around the hundreds of things that need my attention and I start to juggle all those little red balls of other people’s expectations, I feel a little calmer than I normally would. Today was a subtle day of sweet relaxation and I am thankful.

“Be still before the LORD…” Psalm 37:7