Thursday, February 24, 2011

Seriously??

A little free-verse to get us started this morning:


200 gallons of water in my basement.
A waterfall from my ceiling vent.
In my room with all the books.

Floating carpet.
Pad soaking up water like a sponge.
Water climbing up the door jams.

28 high-powered fans.
Water extraction vacuums.
10 days of drying time.

Closet contents scattered.
Furniture stacked against walls.
Books buried 12 feet under.

Can't get to the TV.
DVR recordings piling up.
Sub-contractors taking their sweet time.

Although I've never seen myself as a poet, the above verses really evoke emotions, don't they?  Or maybe it's just me that gets a twisting in my gut when I read this.

There is a silver lining.  My daughter and I found my two old guitars in the pile of rubble/rubbish formerly stuffed at the back of a closet.  Whilst sitting atop tipped-over bookshelves, and surrounded by Halloween costumes, we broke into an impromptu duet.  "Here Comes the Sun."

From our lips to God's ears.

Little darling,
the smiles returning to their faces.
Little darling,
it seems like years since it's been here.
Here comes the sun
Do-n-do do
Here comes the sun...


And I say,  it's alright...

Amen to that!

-Sylva

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

The Science of Good Works

I've been in a funk lately.  But until today, I've not known why.  Prior to this morning I was making lists of all the things I was doing right.  I guess I was trying to prove to myself that I had no reason to be in a funk.  My list of 'rightness' was huge.  For self-gratification purposes, I am including said list:

I read my scriptures daily
I say morning and evening prayers regularly
Every night there is a hot, home-cooked meal on the table for my family
I call my parents and siblings just to say 'Hi'
I recently forgave a sister who had hurt me deeply and our relationship is better than ever
I pay a tithe to my church
I am faithful to my husband
The words I say, and the thoughts I think are clean and hopefully above reproof
I try to keep my home clean and free of stressful clutter
Every morning I exercise - running, weights, yoga - my physical body is healthy and fit
I am taking time to enjoy nature, even in the bleak mid-winter
I tell my kids I love them every day
I hug my kids every day
My pets are happy, well-fed, and also get hugs every day
Every Sunday, you can find me on the front pew at church
I read my church-generated periodical from cover to cover every month
The books I read and the shows I watch are clean and uplifting
I feel that I have recently overcome a rather detrimental habit
I look for things to be grateful for
My attitude about life is generally positive and upbeat - it's hard to keep me down
I have good friends that I do things with regularly
I try to be kind

What it all boils down to is that I am trying to be the best person I can be.  Living cleanly and with gratitude in my heart is, at this point in my life, still a goal I strive daily to reach.  Eventually it will become second nature to me, and then an 'Attitude of Gratitude' and a clean life will become my defining characteristics.  

But back to my list.  There are 22 reasons I should not be in a funk listed up there.  22 things that I am doing right.  And they are pretty major things, even if I do say so myself.  Yet here I am, feeling stagnant, stuck, and in a bit of a stupor.  Until this morning when a scripture came to mind:  

1 Corinthians 13

1:  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2:  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3:  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4:  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 

5:  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6:  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7:  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8:  Charity never faileth...

13:  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 

This morning I recognized a noticeable gap in the make up of my daily life, a hole in the fabric of my so-called righteousness.

A decided lack of charity.

Until now.

I am about to test Paul's words to the Corinthians.  

Blessings sometimes come like a cuff upside the head.
Thank you, Dear Father, for the wake up call.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I am going to go follow the Master Teacher, and whip up a batch of bread for my neighbors.

-Sylva