Gathering the Gleanings: Reflections on Life in the Ministry

One of the few things that I love about Facebook is the memories I get to see each day. You know the ones where it shows you whatever you posted on that day for however many years that you’ve been a Facebook user?

I love to hear the sweet songs my son sang and recall the amazing milestones he reached. And for many years it was the way Joe’s family could be a part of his life from afar, because we lived in GA and they in NC. I love to see his silly hat pictures and remember his unique personality constantly growing and developing. I also have funny quotes from him pop up – such as one day when he asked “Dad, what did you see in mom’s sparkly nerdy self?” or better yet “Dad mom’s not a girl she is a princess”.

I’m somewhat amazed by the less than intelligent things I posted and things not everyone likely needed to know. If you knew me well enough you knew the health struggles I had and sadly still have. So I wonder why I felt the need to talk about headaches/migraines all the time. I guess it gave voice to a couple of the “silent” illnesses that were far from silent in my head and body.

All this to say is if I was still doing as much posting and in the same nature as 15 years ago or so, last night my status would have been – “I’m knitting and listening to a knitting podcast.” Let me tell you podcasts have changed greatly. I’ve also learned that while knitting still hurts there’s a lot to say about moderation. I knit, it fills the creative part of my being and when it comes to the point when I feel that pain starting to set in, I finish my row and put it away for another time.

Most recently I found that I posted a LOT about the fact I was knitting and listening to knitting podcasts. My friends, this was my favorite thing to do at the end of the day and before podcasts were really all that popular. It could also be said that I had knitting needles in my hands whenever possible. I stopped knitting mostly for the physical pain I was experiencing and how knitting made it worse – it wasn’t life giving anymore when it was adding to the reduced quality of life by causing pain. And honestly, my dissertation was the reason I put my needles down almost completely. 

And yet it was so, so, so hard, did I say so hard to downsize my enormous stash of yarn when we moved. Now I know why it was so hard and I have a good bit of sadness that I don’t have this yarn or that yarn in my bins. Alas, hopefully someone is enjoying it and I get to get more yarn occasionally .

Life’s like that. We need to learn to do things in moderation. Now there are some serious things that should never be done even slightly! However, there are plenty of things that I believe should be done – in moderation. Think about the things you do. Are there things that would be better if you committed to yourself that you would be a better version of yourself if you consumed or participated in it less or did it in moderation? What are they? Can you try it? Think about what you would do to fill that bit of extra time?

For me, I’m taking up meditation, breathing deep, and praying. Those are mine I know – what can you do? What things will fill you and help you be the best version of your awesome self?