Tomorrow, I will drive my parents to Arkansas. We will go to Wilmar/Monticello, the southeastern part of the state where my mother grew up. It has been years since I have been there. But I look forward to going. I have a lot of very good memories of going there as a child. In particular, I enjoyed being there on Christmas.
My grandparents lived in a white frame house on a two lane highway coming into Monticello. They had a garden, a barn, a shed–all sorts of places where a city boy could explore. I have wonderful memories of riding on the tractor with my grandpa. At other times, he would take us to the woods. He ran a lumber mill and seemed to know about every kind of tree. I remember cold Decembers, riding in his pickup truck. With the deaths of my grandparents, all of those memories seemed to come to an abrupt stop.
At the time, I did not realize that we were making important and significant memories. I did not realize that one day I would look back and wistfully long to experience these moments again. No–at the time I was just living.
Today, I suspect the same is happening. Today I will just be living. But–it could be that I will make some memories as well. It could be that some of this "ordinary living" will actually turn out to be very significant.
As I think about today, I don’t want to be overly focused on the past or consumed by what will happen in my future life on this earth. I do want to be very present in ordinary life.
As I think about the last few weeks, they have been ordinary in many ways. That is, they are very similar to many other weeks:
- Time spent in conversations with people about their children, their aging parents, sicknesses, etc. I’ve talked in my office with a number of people. On the telephone with a concerned parent. A number of e-mails in which people expressed concerns and issues that were deeply personal
- Time spent being with Charlotte. Talking on the telephone with Christine, Phillip, and Jamie (my children and son-in-law). Being with special friends.
- Time spent mowing, weed-eating, dealing with loose insulation in the attic, and paying bills.
Ordinary stuff.
At the moment, I am sitting at my desk at home. I am looking at a small clock on my desk. The second hand sweeps around the face of the clock every 60 seconds. At some point, the clock in my life will come to a halt. Life on this earth will be over for me. I know–we all know this. Many of us just don’t think about it very much.
How will I live in the meantime? How will I deal with the ordinary moments of life? Will I consciously live in the presence of God, even in the most mundane moments? Will I be open to however God wishes to redeem the ordinary moments of my life?
Just thinking about this today…
Awesome stuff Jim. I am so guilty of just plowing through and missing some of the most ordinary things. When I do notice them, even the ordinary things of life can be very exciting, beautiful and rewarding. I appreciate your value of the ordinary. Your intent to stay focused on what is relevant in all of your writings is very centering for me. Thank you.
Good reminder, Jim. One reason I began blogging is to force myself to not go through a day without seeing something worth noting. (Was that grammatically correct?)
Keith,
Thanks for the encouragment. So good to hear from you again. Thanks again for the affirmation.
Greg–good observation about blogging. That had not occurred to me.
Jim – I enjoyed your blog today. If you look at it from your grandparents shoes, they probably had no idea they were having such an impact on you. I wonder what that says about those around us? I often wonder what memories my children will consider most prescious.
Dad, This was a very insightful bolg. Time is such a valuable thing that I think we all take advantage of. We think we have an abundance of time to do all the things we want, when in reality each moment is a blessing and a reminder that we are alive. I know that I dont always spend my time wisely. I think that it is an issue of selfishness. I think God gives opportunities daily to serve him that we pass by in order to use our time in the way that we want to use it. Anyways, all I am really saying is that college has taught me that time is the most valuable thing in life. Without time, nothing can happen in mine/others lives. It has also taught me that living for myself is such a waste of time which reaps no rewards. When I use my time for things that I know are pleasing to God…I know that I am living for him and it gives me a sense of satisfaction in my life. Well enough of my ramblings….I love u. Sorry if my insights didnt make any sense.
How easy we forget the memory makers in our lives. It made me do a reality check about the memories I am making with my family.
Thanks
Sometimes, I stop everything and just take a moment to look full in my children’s eyes…
talk about mundane…it is barely a moment, hardly a memory… but it’s amazingly powerful…
Jamie,
What a wonderful comment! Your comment is better than the post! I appreciate your insightfulness regarding selfishness. I think many of us relate to what you are saying.
So good to hear from my wonderful daughter…
Jeff–
So glad this was useful to you. These memories are so important just as you suggest.
Byron,
You are so right. I’m sure they had no idea the impact they were having. I suspect we do not either. Thanks Byron…
L.L.
You have a way of expressing yourself in a way that makes me stop and think. Thanks,