Remember back in the days before teh Headache, how Sue (our dear Inner Dorothy) used to paint a room every time she went on vacation? I was thinking about that when I painted E's room this weekend (Yellow and green, the colors of his somehow-mysteriously-selected Favorite Team. It turned out alright.)
But, anyway, as I was painting, I was thinking of Sue and of another very dear friend who's carrying a heavy load this week, and I remembered monks who dedicate their work, like it's prayer, which is something I've never done since work is a thing to get over quick, in my way of thinking. But since you cant really rush room painting, I tried it.
Every brush stroke, roller stroke, for my dear friend, and then for Sue, who is just struggling so badly right now and needs our fervent prayers, every one we can spare. Then for other things and people came to mind, and I prayed as thoughts rolled into my head. For Barack Obama that he not mess it up and get it messed up for him. For grandparents and aunties gathering at the lake. For all the far flung dear ones from many times and places who are being rediscovered on Facebook (including the husband of my college roomate in Chicago, who somehow knows a blog friend in Boston). For the all the children I know and love - my son, his cousins (including one on the way) and friends. For animals who need homes and for the people who love them. For the people of my church, one by one. For the ones who push my buttons and the ones who delight me without ceasing. For the medical professional whose response was "be careful" when I told her I would be painting this weekend. For (as I listened to the radio) the people of Knoxville. For more rain some places, for less other places. For peace. For healing and then back for Sue, and then for my dear dear friend.
It was a relief to find the wandering mind does not always have to wander into pitfalls of self loathing or irritation. Maybe the monks were on to something.
Also, unrelated, perhaps. We got 3/4 of a gallon of yellow paint for free, since is EXPLODED in the mixer at the hardware store! Maybe I could have prayed for the guy who had to clean all that up. So when we went to buy a ladder, I got the most expensive one - the super sturdy one that shows a picture of a 75 year old man changing light bulbs on the wrapper. Love the new ladder. I am now adding it to my list of
Things It's Not Worth Buying The Cheapest One Of:
1. band-aids
2. croissants
3. undergarments
4. ladders
What's on your list?
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13 comments:
Yellow and Green? Really? Dare I get excited?
* Garbage bags
* Shoes
* Sushi
Haircuts
Children's Car Seats (more for non infuriating design than anything else)
shoes
I second Otis's vote for garbage bags.
smooch,
R
coffee
I'm going to say "shoes" too.
also, like songbird, "coffee".
Come to think of it, when IS it best to buy the cheapest?
I had almost forgotten my painting habit. We hired someone for the last job.
Your dedication of your painting task brought tears to my eyes - good tears - knowing that so many of my good friends are out there praying and supporting me.
I don't know what else to say except God bless you, and thank you...
sounds lovely, juniper. the discipline of prayerful painting, i mean... the yellow and green... um... o.k.
fun list y'all have got going here. i'm too sleepy at the moment to come up with something clever to add.
**Definitely coffee
**The sofa you plan to live on for the next 30 years
** Your mattress
Things that its best not to buy the cheapest of
1. wine
2. shoes
3. tires
4. hotel rooms
5. products you use in your hair
signed, Just Lurkin Around
haircuts
bed sheets
pens (The cheapest get all gloppy!)
My husband painted out kids' rooms while I was out of town last week. LOVE my daughter's "little pond" blue all over, and I'm cautiously loving my son's VERY bright green accent wall. I like it, but I don't know what to do with the rest of the room. It's way brighter than we thought it would be, but oh well. We need to get some navy blue in there to coordinate with it. So much for the gender neutral nursery. I guess we'll repaint someday if we need to!
Oh Deb, speak to my soul. The sofa thing is so elusive. The last time my wife and I moved we vowed to keep nothing that had ever been in a dorm room with either of us. But alas the futon remains. As such we can't commit to a sofa. We got married for crying out loud (and that was a big deal, I went fetal for an hour after proposing) but we can't settle on a sofa, too big a commitment. So, after all, I agree, no skimping on the sofa, it's a bigger decision than marriage for cryeye.
toilet paper
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