Sunset inched back to 4:55 PM this week, though we are still losing daylight with sunrise as late as 7:37 AM. The slight shift in time was another reminder of how little things in life can have a huge impact. One minute in our household (and most likely many other households) can mean the difference between success and catastrophe. We also moved to the third Sunday in Advent, with a focus on rejoicing in all things in life, whether good or bad, big or little, simple or complex. These miniscule details in the short term may seem trivial, but when combined and reflected upon can lead to a number of life adventures and discoveries. We thought we’d share some things we learned about the seemingly little aspects of life in this week’s post.
“Practice is an essential reset button that we must push many times before we can experience any genuine newness.” –Richard Rohr
Theme of the Week: Little, Well Maybe…
Our theme of the week started on the way home from church. I was contemplating why I could not find a good song on the radio. Normally, this is an easy task, for there are two stations that play the songs I like, two more stations that I tolerate, and a “wild card” station I have programmed in the Jeep that is a mix of all genres of music. Surely, one station should have something worth listening to right after early mass. Nope. All commercials this morning. Wondering what was going on, I glanced at the clock and saw the time was 8:23 AM, a full seven minutes before our normal dismissal time of 8:30 AM.
Well, that explains a lot. It is too early for the two radio programs with the retro playbacks I like, too early for the two country countdown stations, and the one time the wild card station plays commercials instead of music. Wonderful.
The CD player in the Jeep broke years ago when I had no extra money to get it fixed, and well, one day lead to one week, to a month, and here we are years later with the same condition. So, my predicament was my own doing, though not really under my control. While having no music to listen to is not the end of the world, it can be frustrating for busy people who work a lot and don’t get much time to do things they enjoy for any length of time unless maybe it is squeezed in with another task (like driving to and from church or work).
Normally, I would have tried to focus on a hymn from mass, but focusing had become difficult lately. After much thought about why this was suddenly the case, I faced the truth that I had been cramming everything possible into life lately to avoid the grief I’ve felt inside since my dog Sadie passed away in June. You would think six months would be adequate to get a handle on such a matter. Nope. Not in this case. Not after almost thirteen years of beloved devotion by both parties through thick and thin, right and wrong, hope and fear, and every combination of emotions and life circumstances possible.
Well, I guess I could pray, but I don’t feel like talking,
Well, you don’t have to talk to pray, you can just listen.
Then that’s what I’ll do. Just listen.
So, I got to hear the rattles in the Jeep, hum of the tires on the road, other traffic, silence when stopped, and yes, even God. Little things that one could easily overlook, dismiss, forget, or simple not acknowledge. How much do we miss when we miss the little things?
“To know how to say what others only know how to think is what makes men poets or sages, and to dare to say what others only dare to think makes men martyrs or reformers—or both.” –Elizabeth Charles
Lesson of the Week: Every Little Thing Do Not Leave…
Our lesson of the week came from our beloved Lena. Being only nine months old, she is going through a chewing phase. Now, not just any chewing phase, but an everything she can get her paws on chewing phase. You name it, she’s figured a way to get it into her mouth. Everything from pens to spoons, drain covers to alarm clocks, batteries to drywall, and yes, even things she is allowed to have like toys. Given the situation, I have tried to be vigilant with leaving things on the counter or desk. However, the inevitable happened the other night when I was in between work and getting ready to go to a special Advent church service.
I entered the kitchen and found Lena in the doorway chewing my wallet. Oh, Good Lord…
As I gently pried what was left of the wallet from her mouth (and tiny, sharp, white teeth), I noticed something shiny on the floor beneath her paw. Oh, no!
Oh, yes. She ate my watch, too.
“Lena, I’m not sure what to say except Santa is not happy right now,” I said in my calmest voice, which admittedly was a bit tired also.
What else could I say that would make a difference? What was done was done and now we both had to live with the consequences and move on. Consequences are little things that can grow into big messes if left unchecked. Then again, anything can turn into a big mess if left unchecked. We have examples of that every day in life all over the world.
Upon reflecting on this, we have concluded that while it is best to allow certain things in life to pass as they are, other things need attention. Attention now. Not in a while or when we feel like it or if the stars align and we win the lottery (which will not happen in our house because we don’t play the lottery). Attention to the little things allows us to leave this life with a clear conscience, but the little things left unattended have the potential to haunt us forever.
“Little things console us because little things afflict us.” –Blaise Pascal
Song of the Week: Little Things Tell the Story
Our song of the week is an old favorite that did eventually come on the radio Sunday. The song is a story song, telling how a love came to be. The lyrics are a bit different, especially at the beginning of the song, making the listener wonder what the ending will be like. (Until of course you play the heck out of the song and know it by heart). The song also speaks to how the little details affect us in life and how their consequences find a way to fruition.
She’s in Love With the Boy
Katie’s sitting on the old front porch
Watching the chickens peck the ground
There ain’t a whole lot going on tonight
In this one horse town
Over yonder, coming up the road
In a beat-up Chevy truck
Her boyfriend Tommy, he’s laying on the horn
Splashing through the mud and the muck
Her daddy says, “He ain’t worth a lick
When it comes to brains, he got the short end of the stick”
But Katie’s young and man, she just don’t care
She’d follow Tommy anywhere
She’s in love with the boy
She’s in love with the boy
She’s in love with the boy
And even if they have to run away
She’s gonna marry that boy someday
Katie and Tommy at the drive-in movie
Parked in the very last row
They’re too busy holding on to one another
To even care about the show
Later on outside the Tastee Freeze
Tommy slips something on her hand
He says, “My high school ring will have to do
‘Til I can buy a wedding band”
Her daddy says, “He ain’t worth a lick
When it comes to brains, he got the short end of the stick”
But Katie’s young and man, she just don’t care
She’d follow Tommy anywhere
She’s in love with the boy
She’s in love with the boy
She’s in love with the boy
And even if they have to run away
She’s gonna marry that boy someday
Her daddy’s waiting up ’til half past twelve
When they come sneaking up the walk
He says, “Young lady get on up to your room
While me and junior have a talk”
Mama breaks in, says, “Don’t lose your temper
It wasn’t very long ago
When you yourself was just a hay-seed plowboy
Who didn’t have a row to hoe”
“My daddy said you wasn’t worth a lick
When it came to brains, you got the short end of the stick
But he was wrong and honey, you are too
Katie looks at Tommy like I still look at you”
She’s in love with the boy
She’s in love with the boy
She’s in love with the boy
What’s meant to be will always find a way
She’s in love with the boy
She’s in love with the boy
She’s in love with the boy
What’s meant to be will always find a way
She’s gonna marry that boy someday
She’s in love with the boy
(Written by Jon Ims, performed by Trisha Yearwood)
The lyric that sticks out most in this song for us is “what’s meant to be will always find a way” for that is the truth of life.
“Almost everything comes from almost nothing.” –Henri Frederic
Sight of the Week: Behind the Clouds and What May Come to Be
Our sight of the week is actually something we did not see, but wanted to share as a little science learning thing. The yearly Geminids meteor shower peaked this past Tuesday. This meteor shower occurs when Earth encounters the dusty path of the asteroid 3200 Phaethon. Phaethon is named after the son of Helios, the sun god. It is made of mostly rock, and heat from the sun causes sodium on the surface to fizz, creating a comet-like tail. While other meteor showers are caused when debris from comets are encountered along earth’s orbit, the Geminids meteor shower origin is an asteroid. It is a little detail, but one of significance when it comes to understanding the intensity of the meteor shower.
We also have a sight of the week to report that we actually saw. This sight was most welcome, for it means we have much to look forward to in the coming year. We found tiny buds on the lilac and buckeye tree in the yard while walking this week. The buds will remain dormant until spring. Some may fall off or not be able to recover from the upcoming winter (which officially starts December 21st) weather, but most will become lush leaves in spring.
“The pleasure isn’t in doing the thing, the pleasure is in planning it.” –John Green
Words of the Week: Rejoice in Deeds
Our words of the week from the Daily Word devotional are love, healing, give, prayer, and free. Love has the power to creating healing. As we heal from past wounds, it becomes easier to give. Through giving of ourselves to others, we offer and may receive prayers of hope. It is in giving that one becomes free from the anxieties of life. And it all starts with love, a little word with a lot of little details that affects everything on earth. Amazing!
“Love many things, for therein lives the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is don in love is done well.” –Vincent Van Gogh
May the little details of life encountered every day lead us to live with a deeper love and appreciation for others and ourselves. May what we encounter, be it painful or joyful, be viewed as building character, and may our character building lead us to and through every little thing in life.
Every Little Thing
Every little thing, every little detail
Is what love brings as it comes to sail
In and through the blue of the skies,
The truth of the light,
The depths of the valleys walked,
The rest that rallies the limbs’ stalks,
And the trials and tribulations
That come in the style of salvation.
Every little thing from seed of the earth
To the reed in the dirt,
From bird and bush to bee and hive
Comes to push, weed, and divide
The wheat from the chaff in the wind
From what one has and has not lived
So that what is shared in kind
Prepares for life.
Every little thing, seen and unseen
Leads the song to sing as the soul is set free,
Free to fly in time
Across the skies in the light
Past the fall and winter cold
To the all of spring and summer’s hold.
-Lisa A. Wisniewski
A Note of Thanks
Our thanks this week is for our church community, which reminded us to rejoice always in whatever life offers. While it is often hard to rejoice (like when the dog chews your wallet), we must also realize it could be much worse (without the dog, you may not know love).
-Lisa, Leo, and Lena
Natural Deltas 