We recently drove from Massachusetts to Virginia to visit our youngest. As we were heading back North, I found myself taking pictures of barns, silos, and patchwork fields captured with a sense of familiarity, nostalgia, and memories that weren’t necessarily my own.
The thoughts that wandered through my mind as I waited for the next shutter stop were also familiar. They walked in like an old friend I hadn’t been in contact with for a long time but picked up right where we left off.
The fact it felt so familiar was a bit strange. I’ve felt lost in many ways for some time, and this was comforting. It was a hint that I’m still here, maybe a bit buried, but not actually lost.
I saw a quote recently, though I don’t know who to attribute it to. It said, “It won’t happen overnight, but if you quit, it won’t happen at all.”
I’m making myself a small poster of sorts, to put in a place where I’ll see it and be reminded that I need to keep taking the next step. Even if that step is only a shuffle, it counts. It matters. It can make a difference in the journey.
I open with a disclaimer that my credentials and experience that warrant giving advice come only from having lived on the earth for a number of decades. So in no particular order, here goes…
If you are a parent, pray for your kids. Pray with your kids. In the car, in the grocery store, on walks, when you wake up in the middle of the night. You get the idea, right? There is never a wrong time to pray for or with your kids. They may remember those times, they may not – that’s not the point. Pray!
Take the scenic route. If this means leaving earlier, so be it. Seeing a different landscape, landmark, or landform can add joy and curiosity. It’s not always possible, there may not be a scenic route available, time and responsibilities are factors. I get that. But if possible, whenever possible, take the scenic route.
Use the paper. Does anyone else collect paper? There is just something about handmade papers, scrapbook papers, all of it! The colors, sound (yes, that crinkly sound – you know what I’m talking about!), textures are all beautiful! But don’t save it for that “some day” when you have time to plan out your project and have the table organized and no interruptions, and… Have fun. Create. Make a mess. Why did you buy the paper? Was it for a specific purpose? No? Even better! Tear it up, paint your thoughts on it. Use the paper.
Use the _________[fill in the blank] – nice pens, good silver, cloth napkins, guest towels, expensive coffee, etc.
I know others have said this. What is the point of gathering supplies or having nice things if we can’t use them. Or really, we don’t allow ourselves to use them. Nice pens will run out of ink. But was the ink used to write a thank you to a friend who dropped off a meal when you were sick? Was there a check written to pay for utilities to keep your house warm so you could have guests over? And when those guests were over, did you pull out the cloth napkins and good silver to show your appreciation for their friendship?
We – I’ll speak for myself here, assuming I’m not the only one – I know I have things that I’ve collected but hate to use. What happens when they’re used up or gone? What if I can’t get them again? Is the point of having them just to look at them, dust them off every now and again, try to remember where I put them? Or is the point to enjoy them for the purpose they were created.
I have a cut and assemble paper model of Paul Revere’s house that my mom got for me a couple of years ago. I don’ t know if they make them anymore. Should that keep me from cutting up the pages and piecing them together? Until recently I would say, yes. But the reason Mom sent it was because I like working with paper. I like putting things together. I have since I was little. I’m not an official collector of anything, so I don’t think I’m in the school of “this will grow in value”. I’m in the school of the thought for this gift was so I could have fun putting it together, and I can thank Mom for the joy, curiosity and gratitude I feel while putting it together.
Make that phone call, send that text, or email, or letter. Now this is a little more cautious. If you have a friend or sibling, or relative that you haven’t heard from in a while, and there isn’t anything serious preventing it, send a “hello” or “thinking of you” message (in your format of choice – or their format of choice). Literally just a “Hi, you came to mind recently and I wanted to just say hello.” When all is said and done, life can be short. Some of us are blessed with more days than others, but don’t let too much time pass before you reconnect. Even if they don’t respond, you’ve taken the step.
Read children’s books. No, seriously! I’ve collected children’s books since I was in college. Before I had any inkling of getting married or having kids. They are so many things: beautiful, colorful, funny, fun, serious, historical, magical, imaginative, and on and on. They put into simple words and images, so many human emotions. They help us understand each other. They give us an opportunity to disappear into a world of imagination and adventure. If you read them out loud (to your kids or grandkids, or kids at the library) you get to have fun making up voices that will hang in the memory of those kids. It helps them see that grown-ups don’t have to be serious all the time. I still remember one of the books my grandma would read to me when I was little.
For Mom: Go to the library. Don’t just find it, visit it. Regularly. Get a library card. Get a museum pass. Ask questions. Explore. This is one I have to work on myself. I know where the library is in the town we recently moved to, but I have yet to visit it. There are so many resources available, events they sponsor, and you know, books to read (or listen to)! In the next few days my plan is to go and get a library card, explore the building, and maybe check out a book or two!
Is there anything I’ve missed? Anything you would offer?
If you look up the definition of worship ˈwər-shəp there are several options to study. It comes in the form of a verb, something we do, and a noun, something we give.
As a matter of faith, and some might say religion, worship is a multi-layered thing. Often, people talk about worship as a form of music, or a certain part of a church service, which again, is valid and yet incomplete.
It’s something that I’m studying – not in an entirely academic way, but to learn more about what it means. What is the depth of my understanding of this thing that is thrown around in so many different ways?
I think of worship as a matter of the heart and mind. Going to the Shema, mentioned in multiple places in the Bible – with Jesus stating it in Mark 12:31:
And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.
This is an act of worship. It isn’t just singing a song or praying, or reading His word. It’s all of this and more. What do I put in a place of honor with my time and attention? Where do I set my focus? I won’t perfect anything this side of heaven, but I press on…
[Pro 16:9 ESV] 9 “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.”
Our hearts make us out to be so much bigger than we really are. We make plans, we scheme, we dream. Now, dreams, ideas and plans are not inherently bad, but if we aren’t careful, they can lead down a path that gets darker and more thorny.
Often our hearts and minds begin working on ideas that might sound good, and may have valid benefits! As those plans continue to develop, we should be careful to include prayer, study, and godly counsel. These things are important to keep us on the right path. It makes it more clear when God gives a different direction, or simply shows us one or two steps ahead of where we are.
If we are caught up in the schemes and dreams that make us seem more important or more in control, proceed with caution. Remember the tower of Babel? Our place is not to make our name great. Sometimes God blesses us with a platform, but it isn’t for our own glory. When people look at us, they shouldn’t see us, they should see lights pointing to our heavenly Father.
God had the first word, He will have the last word. It will not pass away, but this world will. We are but dust.
[Gen 3:19 ESV] 19 “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
The holidays gave me a bit of a restart. Just after Christmas, a lovely bug caught up with me. A couple days of sleep and ibuprofen seemed to manage it just fine. That timeframe also allowed me to really rest and not think about a lot of things. I was already off from work, but I also didn’t need to think about meals or being productive.
My perspective from this side is one of gratitude. That short time of being set aside allowed me to breathe, and I can appreciate some of the things I really should work on, not worry about. This life is getting more complex. There is a lot of noise out there, which creates noise in my head. I need to quiet my head and heart. While some talk of words for the year, or resolutions or habits, or new beginnings — good things for some — I choose to remain curious, but calm. To steady my gaze and focus on fewer things. To work on myself in small ways, step by step.
In the waning moments of this November Thursday, a few thoughts.
Gratitude is highlighted on this day, but I would posit that even the darkest, hardest days can be stitched in gratitude. Perhaps today is one of the darkest, hardest days for some. With all the scenes of family and friends gathering, tables brimming with food of every kind, people looking forward to the beginning of this season, it can feel overwhelming when the scenes you face are so very different.
This time of year can bring a painful reminder of loved ones no longer with us, or a family that is no longer happily together. Perhaps there has never been a glowing family gathering in our past. That is a reality for some of us. Watching others’ lives go by can be difficult. That is a time to step back and consider our own life.
What memories do we have that bring a smile to our face? What do we have in this moment that we can take into account and spend a moment of gratitude noting?
A coat?
A place to sleep?
A meal?
A view of the night sky with all the stars?
The sound of birds? Of waves? Of a song we can’t help but sing?
This is a reminder to myself as well: when the stress or weariness of feeling “less-than” creeps in (and it is a creep!), think small.
What is the smallest thing you can find to be grateful for?
A breath? The color of your eyes? The color of the leaf on the ground in front of you? The smallest green sprout of grass between the concrete squares in a very grey space?
Our Creator sees us. Our Creator knows us. And while I don’t have answers for all of the difficult situations we might find ourselves in, I know He loves us. I pray we are all able to see Him in the smallest details around us. That we would take note of the beauty He has surrounded us with – and not beauty as the world might see, but His creative, wondrous, unique beauty. The beauty He placed in us as His most precious creation.
I wanted to share some things I’ve been working on in all of their quirky cuteness! I say these little trees are experiments because they are not from any pattern – I was practicing with different stitches and yarns to see how things would turn out.
(Also I know the photographs are not the best, but again, in a quest for honest input and progress, I’ll keep working on that.)
Little by little my space is getting put together. After moving in last June, it’s taken some time to figure out the best way to organize things. Art supplies should have a place to live, but also be easily accessible when needed.
My list of ideas and projects continues to grow, and I’m excited to work on some things! I’ve been playing with yarn this week, making a handful of small crocheted trees. I’m not using a pattern, just experimenting with different stitches and yarn and creating some awkward but cute little cone trees.
Keeping my hands busy outside of my day job is a good thing. It calms that odd restlessness that sometimes sits on my shoulders as I struggle to start a larger project. These small crochet experiments are a good starting point! I have more squares of watercolor paper cut out as well, ready for more small sketches like the one above. These three-ish inch squares are great for a quick and loose painting that doesn’t overwhelm, but can still be worthy of framing!
I’m not looking for perfection, I’m learning for improvement!
I’m not looking to have everything “just so”, but am working on making things workable.
Little steps forward are still steps!
Practice makes progress. And I am definitely a work in progress!
Welcome! I’m just heating up some water for pour over coffee (or hot cocoa or tea if you prefer) and it’s just about ready! It’s a beautiful day and I was going to sit out on the deck and enjoy the fresh air and take some time to ponder this life we’re traveling through. Care to join me?
Holly J Campbell 