i hope some of you got that dwight schrute ref.
August 10, 2011 A.D.
I crave simplicity. Like a pregnant mama craves salt and sugar. I had a guy friend once say that when his wife is pregnant, he is just going to keep a huge salt lick, and a huge sugar lick (is that a real thing? if so, sign me up) handy to keep the cravings at bay. because essentially, apparently, the cravings are for something salty or sweet and they are just manifested in oreos or ice cream. pickles or tater tots. should i have the gift of being pregnant, i personally am totally stoked for cravings. my sister, who is the proud mama of my goddaughter and the most wonderful niece in the world, went to town with oreos. i am majorly down with oreos. majorly.
so after that unexpected tangent, let me say again i CRAVE simplicity. and then i realize oh yeah, i am a human. and to add the kicker, i am a woman. i’m not here to insult my fellow members of the fairer sex brigade, it’s just the way the chips fell. but HELLO we get to carry IMMORTAL SOULS in our bodies. so it sort of balances out in the end. big time.
but seriously. first of all, humans just complicate the crap out of everything. when really, life could be so simple. God Loves us. and we are made to love Him and others as He loves us. sounds simple enough, right? wrong. where things get a little fuzzy is that we fell. and we did not mess around, either. when we fell, we did it like we meant it. and thus complications set in.
and then i am a woman. hear me roar. double the complications double the fun.
so, the point is, i yearn for simplicity that will never be fully realized in this life. and that’s okay. thankfully i am not banking on this life to ever fully satisfying me. nor is it supposed to. i long simply to be Loved infinitely by God and to love Him and His creation as He loves it. which conveniently coincides with the deepest desires of every human soul (“everybody everybody wants to love everybody everybody wants to be loved”-ingrid michaelson as shared by emily winstead on facebook wall). period. two for effect. and so i strive to not let my less than rational whims have their way and hang onto whatever fiber of reason that might still linger in my brain for dear life to convince myself that the trash can did not intentionally tump over and cause me to do extra work (gasp! not that!). so try not to be truly angry with it (an excerpt from the real life and times of elisa).
the first reading in mass today starring St. Paul, always good for a sharp jab in the conscience, asserted that “God loves a cheerful giver”. yikes, elisa.
oh i can give alright. with the best of ‘em. but i can sure as heck play the martyr while i’m doing it. and i can be stoic and act as if i do this or that chore as some heroic act of charity (such as emptying the silverware from the dishwasher--my absolute least favorite of tasks-holler kelle hampton).
but cheerfully? as if i enjoyed serving others? sure there are times when that is easier than others-a meatball party for instance (famous for those in college thank you very much). but, i’ll be honest, i like being served. it’s nice. it’s relaxing. you have more time to sit at Jesus’ feet with Mary when you’ve got a bunch of Marthas running the show for you. but to do a truly selfless act cheerfully? an act where i will really not “get anything” out of it? well that will take a few (million) heaping spoonfulls of grace with plate (or a thousand) of humble pie to wash it down. and there but by the grace of God go i.
so, i’m going to try to keep it simple. i’m going to try to be a cheerful giver. and when i fail, i am going to fall safely into the arms of Love, the Sacraments and the bitter sweetness that this journey will never be over in this life. and probably have another iced coffee or froyo or BOTH in the process.
and can i just say, thank the Lord for Confession. if you haven’t been in a while, please do yourself a favor and go. it is so blessed and beautiful. read the parable of the Prodigal Son before you go and realize that God the Father is infinitely more happy to see you come back to Him than the father in the story. infinitely. and He wants to give to you infinitely more than that father gave to his son. wonders never cease.
God bless you with a cheerfully, simple, human day. Le Chaim!
I crave simplicity. Like a pregnant mama craves salt and sugar. I had a guy friend once say that when his wife is pregnant, he is just going to keep a huge salt lick, and a huge sugar lick (is that a real thing? if so, sign me up) handy to keep the cravings at bay. because essentially, apparently, the cravings are for something salty or sweet and they are just manifested in oreos or ice cream. pickles or tater tots. should i have the gift of being pregnant, i personally am totally stoked for cravings. my sister, who is the proud mama of my goddaughter and the most wonderful niece in the world, went to town with oreos. i am majorly down with oreos. majorly.
 |
| li 9 months preggo with my ginger snap and sporting, might i add, the oreo colors. that's my girl. |
but seriously. first of all, humans just complicate the crap out of everything. when really, life could be so simple. God Loves us. and we are made to love Him and others as He loves us. sounds simple enough, right? wrong. where things get a little fuzzy is that we fell. and we did not mess around, either. when we fell, we did it like we meant it. and thus complications set in.
and then i am a woman. hear me roar. double the complications double the fun.
 |
| don't worry, i also know that being a girl means double the dance parties. double the pretty things. quadruple the awesome. |
 |
| proof is in the patriotic sunglasses? |
the first reading in mass today starring St. Paul, always good for a sharp jab in the conscience, asserted that “God loves a cheerful giver”. yikes, elisa.
oh i can give alright. with the best of ‘em. but i can sure as heck play the martyr while i’m doing it. and i can be stoic and act as if i do this or that chore as some heroic act of charity (such as emptying the silverware from the dishwasher--my absolute least favorite of tasks-holler kelle hampton).
but cheerfully? as if i enjoyed serving others? sure there are times when that is easier than others-a meatball party for instance (famous for those in college thank you very much). but, i’ll be honest, i like being served. it’s nice. it’s relaxing. you have more time to sit at Jesus’ feet with Mary when you’ve got a bunch of Marthas running the show for you. but to do a truly selfless act cheerfully? an act where i will really not “get anything” out of it? well that will take a few (million) heaping spoonfulls of grace with plate (or a thousand) of humble pie to wash it down. and there but by the grace of God go i.
 |
| sophia and collette teaching us how to enjoy the simplicity of life via a puddle in the parking lot |
and can i just say, thank the Lord for Confession. if you haven’t been in a while, please do yourself a favor and go. it is so blessed and beautiful. read the parable of the Prodigal Son before you go and realize that God the Father is infinitely more happy to see you come back to Him than the father in the story. infinitely. and He wants to give to you infinitely more than that father gave to his son. wonders never cease.
God bless you with a cheerfully, simple, human day. Le Chaim!
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