We live by lists. I’ve got lists on my Blackberry calendar. I’ve got little pieces of paper in my shirt pocket that say, “Call Dr.” and “Stop paper/mail” and “Dan.” When I get to work my wonderful, life-saving admin kindly forces me to clean up the clutter on my desk. Then Judy types up a nice clean sheet titled “DRA Tasks” with fifteen or twenty entries. I work my lists. At the end of the day I empty my pockets and am often discouraged: I have not even remembered to check the crumpled scraps of paper bearing my purpose for living today.
Because I can be so tyrannized by small things, because I am silly enough to imagine that I am a “success” if I manage to cross off all the discrete little scribbles by day’s end, I like this poem by Tony Hoagland. See if you like it, too.
THE WORD
Down near the bottom
of the crossed-out list
of things you have to do today,
between “green thread”
and “broccoli,” you find
that you have penciled “sunlight.”
Resting on the page, the word
is beautiful. It touches you
as if you had a friend
and sunlight were a present
he had sent from someplace distant
as this morning—to cheer you up,
and to remind you that,
among your duties, pleasure
is a thing
that also needs accomplishing.
Do you remember?
that time and light are kinds
of love, and love
is no less practical
than a coffee grinder
or a safe spare tire?
Tomorrow you may be utterly
without a clue,
but today you get a telegram
from the heart in exile,
proclaiming that the kingdom
still exists,
the king and queen alive,
still speaking to their children,
—to any one among them
who can find the time
to sit out in the sun and listen.
Beautiful post ! I can’t for one day to hear one of you sermons. That would be a great joy! Have a great day, give your beautiful wife and girls a BIG hug from the Aherns out on Vashon Island 🙂
Sigh. Thank goodness you are so prolific. I certainly can use your brand of peace, kindness, and love.
Adding sunshine to my to-do list,
Brooke
It’s as if you are secretly looking in on my life. Not only do I make lists, have lots of little sticky notes everywhere, but I fell guilty if I’m not making a list. I made one just this morning while changing the sheets on my bed. Trying to clear my head and get the thoughs out of it and onto a piece of paper. My mood is directly linked to how many things get crossed off my list each day. I feel good crossing off, a failure when the list is untouched. There is never anything for me on those lists except maybe an occasionaly drs appt or haircut. Nothing that will bring me a moment of peach or relaxation. They are all about what I need to do for my job, my house, my kids, my pets. I need sunshine! I’m goint to write that down on a yellow sticky and hope for todays rain to go away!
What you describe is SO typical. So—lead the way. Show the rest of us how to put something life-giving on our to-do lists today.
Oops typing so fast this am. Sorry about those typose!
Are you old enoiugh to remember the tune “You aare my sunshine my only sunshine” You make me happy when clounds are grey We wait for it and it will return Blessings clark
used to sing it as a kid!
Yes, Thank you God for Sunlight!
The Creator gave us everything we need including Him:)