If you were to visit my house today, you’d find me in the kitchen working on a new pie crust recipe. You’d see me dicing a pile of Granny Smiths over one of my great-grandmother’s old yellow ware bowls. You’d see fall decorations here and there, and…you would hear Christmas music in the background. Why Christmas music in early September with temps expected to reach over 100⁰, you ask?
Sometimes I need the polar opposite of what the day demands. Sometimes my heart craves genuine. True to self. Sometimes it takes a heaping dose of the real and authentic to break through this steady diet of fear, anger and chaos that stills the breath and breaks the heart.
It’s not rants, chants or capital letters that speak life to me, but rather creating, doing and surrounding myself with treasured items from much simpler times; those still bearing fingerprints of holidays past, life lessons learned at the hem of Grandma’s apron, back when right was clearly defined, and wrong and evil were swiftly punished.
My soul cries out, “Enough!” and I search for what centers me; time spent in my kitchen, hands working dough, creating, feeding my soul and turning away from the heaviness of it all.
It’s ok to avoid the deep end of the pool.
It’s ok to turn down the quiet road and leave all the noise…to the noise makers, because my voice and my actions speak loudly enough to the only One whose opinion of me matters.
Even before a word is on my tongue, behold,
O Lord, you know it altogether. (Psalm 139:4)
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love,
I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy
and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (1 Cor. 13:1)
I have no desire to become another clanging gong in the faceless chatter; replacing the shredded ends of my peace and contentment with the hum of loud opinions or the shock and awe of the day.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed
by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern
what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)
Instead, I will maintain my thankful heart and live each day as the Lord provides. Quietly doing. Graciously living. Believing that though the sun may dissolve into night, I trust that it will rise again new and fresh with promise because despite the noise, the complete loss of reason or justice, Jesus. Is. Our. Only. Hope.
