Earlier this week I was working on sorting through the enormous piles of papers in my grandfather’s office. I found the newspaper from September 12, 2001. When I looked at the pictures and the headlines, I was immediately transported back to my mother’s family room, watching the live footage of the second tower collapsing. That image will be forever etched in my mind along with the feeling of utter disbelief and shock I felt while watching it.
At the time I didn’t think about the date or the fact that September 11th was only a few days away. Today as I lifted a stack of papers to file, this newspaper again found its way into my hands. Stunned, I sat and looked at the newspaper on the anniversary of the horrific tragedy it was reporting. This time I was reminded of the days following September 11, 2001.
In the midst of uncertainty and fear, people poured into churches, searching for stability and sanctuary from the chaos. We cried for the families that lost loved ones and prayed for God to give them comfort. Their pain was incomprehensible and it seemed that praying was the least…and the most…we could do for them. We cherished the time we spent with our own families and prayed that God would protect them in them in the days to come. We held on tight to our faith and prayed for our country’s protection against an intimidating and faceless enemy. Neighborhood streets were lined with American flags and “United We Stand” was plastered on windows, t-shirts and bumpers. The walls that divide us were gone. We were bonded together by a common experience.
Nine years later, our country is riddled with division: racial tensions, partisan politics, economic disparity, fighting among church denominations. I pray that now, as we remember the tragedy of September 11th, we will also remember the unity that followed.
vacuumusing: deep thinking while vacuuming
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Monday, November 23, 2009
Deep Cleaning
So, I got a new vacuum (well, actually it was a hand-me-down from my sister-in-law BUT, it is new to me) … one of those Rainbow deals… you know, the kind filled with water and enough sucking power to inhale a small animal? …Well, that might be a slight exaggeration but it definitely has enough to suction to get rid of some serious set-in carpet funk. In fact, I was incredibly shocked and a little bit disgusted when I vacuumed the upstairs and saw the amount of goo and gloppy gunk floating in the water chamber. After seeing that filth, I knew I was not going to sleep well until I degunked the rest of the house.
I gathered my strength, rolled up my sleeves and worked my way from room to room, sucking up grime and dragging my water hauling R2D2 friend behind me (working up quite a serious glisten, I might add). Of course, in true vacuumusing fashion, my mind began to wander. I began to ponder the debris that was hidden deep in my seemingly clean carpet. I began to think about the (good grief) pain in the rear this whole deep cleaning process really was. Then, I started thinking about my own life and the dirty mess that has built up over the years, hidden beneath the surface of a fairly fuzz-free exterior. I thought of the extraordinary efforts I’d exerted in the past trying to sweep away all that accumulated dirt in order to make my life “right”.
Still partially reeling from a powerful study of John in this week’s Bible study, my mind immediately turned to verses in John and Ephesians that talk about the futileness of human effort in the battle of dirty build-up in our lives. I am aware that I could work diligently every hour of every day to correct past wrongs, clean up every mess, follow every rule and observe every tradition; still it would never be enough. Ephesians 2:8-9 says that salvation is a gift from God and is not the result of human works. The good news is that the extraordinary effort has already taken place. The deep cleansing has been done for me. I simply had to accept the offer.
It doesn’t make practical sense. It doesn’t make logical sense. I suppose it won’t really make any sense at all until I have the opportunity to talk to the creator Himself when I reach my final heavenly destination but I do know this: Christ, through His infinite love and compassion, exerted all of the effort needed to wash the gunk from my life and He continues to give my spirit a deep cleaning. There is no other effort required of me...no hauling around of special machinery, following detailed instructions and working up a sweat trying to get it right…simply a decision to follow Him and a request for Him to come into my life. He takes care of the rest. Amazing.
I gathered my strength, rolled up my sleeves and worked my way from room to room, sucking up grime and dragging my water hauling R2D2 friend behind me (working up quite a serious glisten, I might add). Of course, in true vacuumusing fashion, my mind began to wander. I began to ponder the debris that was hidden deep in my seemingly clean carpet. I began to think about the (good grief) pain in the rear this whole deep cleaning process really was. Then, I started thinking about my own life and the dirty mess that has built up over the years, hidden beneath the surface of a fairly fuzz-free exterior. I thought of the extraordinary efforts I’d exerted in the past trying to sweep away all that accumulated dirt in order to make my life “right”.
Still partially reeling from a powerful study of John in this week’s Bible study, my mind immediately turned to verses in John and Ephesians that talk about the futileness of human effort in the battle of dirty build-up in our lives. I am aware that I could work diligently every hour of every day to correct past wrongs, clean up every mess, follow every rule and observe every tradition; still it would never be enough. Ephesians 2:8-9 says that salvation is a gift from God and is not the result of human works. The good news is that the extraordinary effort has already taken place. The deep cleansing has been done for me. I simply had to accept the offer.
It doesn’t make practical sense. It doesn’t make logical sense. I suppose it won’t really make any sense at all until I have the opportunity to talk to the creator Himself when I reach my final heavenly destination but I do know this: Christ, through His infinite love and compassion, exerted all of the effort needed to wash the gunk from my life and He continues to give my spirit a deep cleaning. There is no other effort required of me...no hauling around of special machinery, following detailed instructions and working up a sweat trying to get it right…simply a decision to follow Him and a request for Him to come into my life. He takes care of the rest. Amazing.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Static
Tara Lynn is vacuuming the hallway, I thought to myself. Earlier today it was: Tara Lynn is sweeping Pringles off the kitchen floor, and before that: Tara Lynn is scrubbing sticky goo out of the kitchen sink. Yes, lately I have found myself narrating my life in terms of facebook statuses; and lest you think my days consist only of crumby, gooey household chores (which is only partly true), today Tara Lynn has also been reading a really good book, drinking a wonderful latte and playing a rousing game of Connect Four with her four-year-old.
Of course, one could argue that I spend too much time on facebook (I would vehemently disagree with them but, they would really probably be right). But hey, at least I’m not posting a new status on facebook every time I change activities. I am keeping these status changes to myself…mulling them over in my own head. In fact, one could argue…and I will…that this is actually a healthy activity. It’s a little brain activity that I (and, I’m sure, millions of others) like to call “the practice of being present”.
I am a writer, an analyzer and a contemplator; genetically pre-disposed to spend a lot of time ruminating over things. Like many other people, I struggle with what I call static of the brain…so many thoughts happening at once that it is difficult to focus on just one; and virtually impossible to act on any of the cluttered plans buzzing around and bumping into each other like a bunch of pesky gnats.
Unfortunately, as a result of this brain static, I spend most of my time functioning on auto-pilot and missing out on the simple joy of being fully present in everyday events like eating a delicious breakfast, reading a fascinating new story to my very appreciative child, or enjoying the cool breeze and the sound of crickets while sitting on the back porch.
For too long, my body has been present during these activities but I have not. When I think about the memories I have missed and the opportunities I have overlooked, I more determined to be present in every activity, to be intentional with my time, to cut through the static and clear my head. If narrating my life in facebook statuses helps me to accomplish that goal then so be it. However, if I start posting every one of those statuses on facebook, someone please plan an intervention.
Of course, one could argue that I spend too much time on facebook (I would vehemently disagree with them but, they would really probably be right). But hey, at least I’m not posting a new status on facebook every time I change activities. I am keeping these status changes to myself…mulling them over in my own head. In fact, one could argue…and I will…that this is actually a healthy activity. It’s a little brain activity that I (and, I’m sure, millions of others) like to call “the practice of being present”.
I am a writer, an analyzer and a contemplator; genetically pre-disposed to spend a lot of time ruminating over things. Like many other people, I struggle with what I call static of the brain…so many thoughts happening at once that it is difficult to focus on just one; and virtually impossible to act on any of the cluttered plans buzzing around and bumping into each other like a bunch of pesky gnats.
Unfortunately, as a result of this brain static, I spend most of my time functioning on auto-pilot and missing out on the simple joy of being fully present in everyday events like eating a delicious breakfast, reading a fascinating new story to my very appreciative child, or enjoying the cool breeze and the sound of crickets while sitting on the back porch.
For too long, my body has been present during these activities but I have not. When I think about the memories I have missed and the opportunities I have overlooked, I more determined to be present in every activity, to be intentional with my time, to cut through the static and clear my head. If narrating my life in facebook statuses helps me to accomplish that goal then so be it. However, if I start posting every one of those statuses on facebook, someone please plan an intervention.
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