Stop the train! I need to get off!!!
Our trip to Hawai'i was nearly two months ago and I find myself longing to go back. It hit me like standing in front of approaching bullet train this morning as I found myself pumping my legs and arms on the elliptical with 8 flatscreen monitors blitzing, no assaulting me, vying with visual stimulus for my attention. In addition, the song on the overhead was literally screaming, yelling at me, this new form of 'music' whose testimony shreeking like our surrounding environment.
I find myself often retreating to silence, even at home; my residence becoming cocoon and haven from the cacophony of media and life. A dear friend dying, work (having three paying jobs now), working out, shopping (yes, I go with my wife and have learned to enjoy shopping), writing, reading, studying and doing homework for a class, practicing music for ministry at the church, remodeling the guest bathroom, installing whirlpool jacuzzi tub and tile... I say it again, stop the train! I need to get off!
And, I will and do as I can.
Finishing breakfast, having returned from our usual Monday, Wednesday, Friday early morning workout (yes, even on Veteran's Day while most seemed take today off there), I will ready myself for a day of work at Lowe's, the first seven hour day in quite a while. All this, while Carrie has her usual Monday off...and, this is the only day I am scheduled to work, at Lowe's all week! My 'day of rest' last week was Friday, and I'm already thinking I need another, soon. Like tomorrow.
In August, I wrote about taking such days; the importance of one day a week calling it Sabbath. (http://offootprintsandfaith.blogspot.com/2012/08/something-sabbath.html),and I have done so every week since. Our vacation/30th anniversary trip to Hawaii was well deserved and much needed for us, and me, and, maybe because it was so restful (mostly) and refreshing to spend entire days with my beloved, I find myself longing return once more. I am growing weary of the daily media assault and lack of consideration for others rising in our world. There is such a refreshing breeze that floods this heart when I see others honoring one another before themselves, especially when it is offered to me.
Yes, I need to be considered, and you do too, even indirectly. When someone returns multiple carts back to the store at Lowe's (and it is rare), considering us, as employees, it blesses me. Heck, if people would just return their carts to the corral, that would be considerable gift to us as well. If we, one at a time would take the time to care for one another, simply and seemingly insignificantly, our world would be transformed with refreshing breeze of love. Yes, love.
Our take on love has been made counterfeit. Becoming a feeling, we seek gratification, when, in fact, love requires sacrifice. No, not what you are thinking, real sacrifice, real care. Did you hear it? How can customers show love to employees at Lowe's? Being considerate to return carts to the corral. What if they, when there was a problem with their purchase, understood that manufacturers make mistakes and so do our shippers and things are sold hiddenly damaged or missing parts. What if, some of our customers, rather than steal parts, talk to us so we could give them to them and order the missing part from the manufacturer rather than going under our radar, selling it to another customer thinking it complete? And all this dishonor and selfishness is just at one of my jobs,Lowe's.
Let me make it clear. Love requires taking the time to learn what might please and honor another life. You have to learn how they think, what makes them happy. It isn't just giving them gifts, it is giving them the right gift at the right time. It could be returning carts. It could be giving flowers. But frequently, it probably is, just the right words of encouragement at the right time. Taking the time to pick up a piece of trash, or take out the trash. The simplest form of love is taking the time, really taking the time to look into the eyes of another, discover who they are and what you may say to them to show them you know and love them. I can't tell you what to do, they will, if you listen and observe. Yes, it is time to love. It is that simple. Maybe I wouldn't need to escape my world if I were just loved more. I live to love, because I love to live!
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