I break rules quite often…when it makes sense anyway.  Not speeding ( well, not usually), certainly not littering, name calling is kept to a minimum, but the purpose of each type of social media seems a bit insignificant to me so I tend to blur the lines.  Status updates absolutely turn into a blog entry (which is why I decided it was time to dust off the blog), within those status updates I do a hashtag (is that what this is # ?) with something with no spaces.  I think that is supposed to be a tweet and I do have twitter but I forgot my password years ago.  People are following me there and I don’t go anywhere- odd huh?

So, this post…there was a string of events on a beautiful day that struck me as meaningful in a random kind of way.  Such beauty is a bit heartbreaking the morning after tragedy, whether your own or that of a total stranger.  It was a big morning!  My sweet baby girl who is actually the oldest graduates from 6th grade today.  It was only slightly upstaged by my worry about the trash – a table actually.  It seemed time to clear projects and work towards a few goals I have in mind so I set out a table and chairs with good bones.  A lovely fella from the trash truck asked if he might come back and pick it up for his new place.  I was ever so glad that it wouldn’t be eaten so we agreed he would come back…only it was still there the next morning.  I began to worry.  Then I just let it go and went on with our day of celebration.  It ended as celebrations do, and I came home to busy myself.  I thought that maybe by creating order here in some small way that order might just reach all those people trying to do the same in Oklahoma.  Silly, huh?

Between trips here and there I saw a family out front.  I set down my tomato stakes to offer a dusty greeting.  They were stopping back by to share the good news of our Lord.  It seems the last time they stopped I was busy.  We visited.  I shared that I have a lovely church community just down the way.  She asked if she could stop by and visit again.  I said sure.  I told her I was quite happy with my church, but being a liberal individual I do like to hear the perspective of others – just to learn.  I thought it was a general sort of thing but now we have a date for a week from Thursday.  All is well.  It did remind me of previous windows in my life where I sure did receive a lot of church invitations.  I really used to wonder if there was a lost sheep quality about me.  I was raised Catholic…we don’t recruit.  I always met nice people.  Some say I am too nice.  I do think that might have been the problem with the fella who gave me watches when I worked at the shoe store in the mall in high school.  Stalking is another matter altogether though.  My kids will tell you I am not always too nice – I have found my “no” when it is called for.

I put her on the calendar, my good news about the Lord date, and sat down a minute.  In that moment, another car pulled up.  I kid you not, I said out loud, “if they are here with a message from God I am going to have to pass.”  It wasn’t – not at all.  It was the fella from the trash truck and his lovely lady friend.  They are new in the neighborhood.  We had a nice chat.  They loaded the table in my van and I followed them to their new spot.  They said they planted a new garden and would bring me a basket of their bounty for my kindness.  I said not necessary but thank you and welcome to the neighborhood.

I don’t say all this to share good deeds because everyone does nice stuff…I just sort of affirmed that when bad things happen and you don’t know what to do…just do something…I think that is the key.  I felt better.  They felt good I think.  I am just silly enough that I think those sort of ripples reach much farther than we might ever imagine.

May you enjoy the warmth of the sun on your face today.

It’s nice to be back.