It’s almost the end of March. The first day of spring has come and gone. It seems the sun is shining brighter, but the daily temperature doesn’t want to budge. Neither do I. Even my blog writing has fallen behind.
This was supposed to be the month of “small things with great love,” and I believe I’ve failed miserably. Yes, there are still some days left, but when I look back on the weeks that have passed, I don’t think I’ve managed much in the way of helping my neighbour and building community in the process. Mostly I’ve sat cocooned in my house, thinking a lot about the topic, but not really doing much to enact it.
It has been a bit discouraging. Why the lull? The haggard, heel-dragging resistance to forming new habits? Just as my shiny new gym membership has barely been used, my Lenten preparations mostly ignored, and the below-freezing temperatures stubbornly refusing to hint of warmer days to come, this month’s practice of “becoming an ordinary radical” has felt more like a job I’ve begrudgingly taken on than some sort of inspired, uplifting endeavour.
When I’m feeling stuck and complacent, I find it helpful to look back at what I’ve accomplished in the last few months. So far, I’ve managed to:
- clear out many of my belongings and donate them to charity.
- slowly become more aware of what and how much I buy, and how these products were produced and by whom.
- buy fair trade coffee (though, I admit, I’ve slipped a few times when the price has swayed me. Why does money in my pocket often trump the rights and welfare of others?).
- bake bread (several times!) This recipe is simple and simply delicious. And the magic that ensues when you mix yeast with flour and water is enough to restore your faith in the world.
- make my own moisturizer; well, sort of. I bought the two ingredients called for in the recipe, but I haven’t taken the time to cook them together on the stove. I just mix a wee bit of both in my hand each night, and it works just as well.
- I still haven’t made my own laundry detergent! Sigh. There’s always something I have to get around to.
- make a “Small things with great love” sign and posted it on my door (well, my daughter made it for me, but I think the result is better than what I would have come up with).
That said, the sign has yet to inspire me. (Though the words did help me hold my tongue yesterday when a woman told me off in the church parking lot for not being able to unlock the door—which was locked during lunch hour and I don’t have a key—and let her inside).
To be sure, there have been wonderful moments. I was recently given some VERY exciting news regarding an event in December. I can’t say anything yet, but it will dovetail with the end of this column perfectly.
I attended a one-day seminar at Crieff Hills Community Retreat and Conference Centre, a beautiful place of rolling hills and wooded trails just south of Guelph, Ont., owned by the Presbyterian Church. At the end of February, Rev. Joel Sherbino of Paris Presbyterian Church spoke about “breaking the holy huddle” —how churches can step out from behind their doors and into their communities. Joel had some wonderful wisdom to share, and I’ll be writing more about that in an upcoming column. I’ll also be heading out to Paris in a couple months’ time to speak with Joel and his wife, Rebecca (they have tons to teach us about community and hospitality) and some of the interesting projects going on in that congregation.
I have plans to do some face-to-face meetings with clients at a homeless mission in downtown Toronto where I’ll learn about their food programs and services; and one day soon I’ll be getting together with a woman I met last December. At that time she had just had her fourth child, and as a single mom, my book club decided to help her out during those crazy first few weeks. More on these things in a future piece!
I’ve also been trying to keep the “small things with great love” in mind when dealing with my family. This should be a no-brainer, but when life gets hectic and stress levels soar, being kind and caring—even to those we love—sometimes gets forgotten.
Lastly, I did some email chatting with fellow Record bloggers about what “small things with great love” means to them. Stay tuned—my next couple of posts will share some of their thoughts.
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).
Until next time,
Amy
