Here, There and Everywhere

I grew up as the mother of five, 8 years oldest to youngest. I supervised the care of an assortment of the usual menagerie of cats, dogs, hamsters and guinea pigs.  And an unusual assortment of small green snakes, lizards, bearded dragons and one large iguana! These years were my defining educational environment – not the years of academic study.

When our children were young, I woke up to not one, but many demands that needed immediate attention: diapers to change, infant to nurse, shoes to tie, breakfast to prepare – all to the tune of “where’s my backpack?”, “where did you put my sweater?” “I don’t like jelly with my peanut butter”.  In a flash, several were out the door in a flurry of pecks on cheeks, shoulder squeezes, trailed by enthusiastic encouragements -“have a good day!”, “good luck on your test!” and “I love you!”.

A deep breath while small hands cheerfully waved good-by as the school bus drove off.  Days were hectic, some long.  Runny noses, skinned knees, occasional a broken bone, a snake on the loose, gentle requests, “please Mommy, help me”, frustrated cries “I need you right NOW!”  “This homework is too hard”, “what’s for dinner?”.  Sleepy pleas, “just one more story, pleeeease?” Bedtime never came too soon, while morning always did. Youngest son voiced my sentiment, “I slept too fast!” There were times when I confronted God – You, Lord, made a big mistake! I should be out there with mother Theresa’s sisters tending to the dying, not here with 5 kids with constant needs and demands. Years later, I now refer to this time as the “reign of holy chaos.”

We hear in today’s reading that Jesus, even Jesus, needed refreshment.  Where did he go?  Jesus found peace and refreshment in the familiar – in a boat on the water.  Most likely a fishing boat.   Some of Jesus’ closest friends were fishermen.  Pretty safe bet that Jesus loved being on the water. 

Where in those years, did I experience God’s refreshment in my hectic life?  Of all places, I found relief and refreshment hanging laundry on the outside clothesline! Literally, hot or cold, rain or snow I hung clothes outside!  I loved it.  I was drawn to it. A routine task offered me time and disposition to be present to God’s refreshing presence.   After just minutes alone, yet not alone, I went back inside renewed and refreshed to sooth the little one pulling on my skirt, read to the one dragging a book bigger than she, sitting on the floor building blocks, playing “dolls”, “house”, “school” or “construction man”.  Picnics – even in the snow!!

Another place of prayer was in the kitchen washing dishes. I loved every aspect of it.  I was drawn to it.  My hands busy, my mind and soul quiet. Again alone, yet not alone. The kids did an abrupt U-turn at the kitchen door. Dishes were not their ‘thing’. Jesus enters where children hesitate to go. Jesus is a hands-on sort of fellow!

It took me years to appreciate that prayer can be my unspoken and unrecognized desire for God. Prayer was the gentle, comforting, refreshing presence of Jesus experienced in the chaos of my daily life.  Every day when my husband got home from work he asked, “What exciting happened today?”   Something really exciting had happen that and every day. However, I did not often recognize it.

Today, 30 years later, I still love Jesus being with me as we hang laundry outside, wash dishes and above all sit in solitude and silence in awe of the rising sun, the setting sun, sparkling winter snow, swirling autumn leaves, and above all the laughter of our grandchildren and neighbor children as they play and call to their mothers.

The Good News: Something exciting really does happen every day!   What exciting happened in your day?