To Begin to Be

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Another week has literally flown by in my world! It’s almost a contradiction of sorts…we are supposed to be in a “stay-at-home”/ lockdown situation and yet I have been busier now than before the pandemic! I’m spending long hours at work, while everyone else is at home dirtying dishes, eating up the food and otherwise creating messes that no one has time to clean up because zoom meetings and stay at home activities are consuming all the rest of the waking hours. It’s tiring, this “not doing anything”. Which makes it seem like there is nothing to write about… everything is vaccines, Covid numbers and infection rates. Is there nothing else to talk about?

Of course, there are always things to muse and ponder over… we just have to be prompted in the right direction, which was my go-to this week… a writing prompt (thanks “The Grace Space” Facebook group!) I chose the word “become”. A verb. An action word. “To begin to be” is how google describes it. I like that. “To begin to be”. It evokes images of emerging from a cocoon, transformed into a new being…changed. Metamorphosis. Transformation from one thing to the next. I suppose it is not necessarily the direct change, but the process of change? Hmmnn. A good word to ponder: become.

image from Godsfort.org

We helped our eldest move in to her first bachelor apartment this weekend. She has “become” an official tenant of her own space. In charge of paying rent, filling out forms, and signing up for her own bills. She’s responsible for her own space and must now manage it unfettered from her parents. She has “become” independent. As mom, I am excited for her. I am curious to see how things play out. She’s been out of the house since starting University, but this is one more step… out of the nest. As parents, we will certainly be available for advice giving, guidance and care packages. You are welcome “home” for a meal and free laundry, but the time has come to venture and learn and grow on your own.

Likewise, the youngest became an official teenager this week. Age thirteen means no more excuses. It also means we can no longer eat off the children’s menu and get the “under 12” discounts. The kids have become adult material. Well, at least teenage material. “Begin to be”. I guess the hubby and I are becoming empty nesters. I know it is only beginning to be because the state of my house indicates there are certainly still fledglings hanging around eating up all the snacks! Yet, we are beginning to see glimpses of the future. Now don’t get all sentimental on me. This is what you trained them up for! (Read more of my thoughts about this here.). It delights my heart to watch my kids take on tasks that challenge and grow them. Perhaps I am a little too eager for their independence. Perhaps I will regret not keeping them young a little longer. So far, I am enjoying the “beginning to be”.

One of the very first verses I had to memorize as a kid was 2Corinthians 5:17:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[a] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

ESV

The bible is full of verses similar to this. Thoughts about “becoming”. “Beginning to be”. Changing, not only from our former (sinful) selves, but continuing to grow, mature and develop “in Christ”. Maturing. Much like my children are doing as they go through this earthly life. The scholarly word for this becoming is sanctification. Being set apart as holy, and refining oneself to a life of purity, consecration and Biblical service. Here at mittonmusings, we call it the faith journey… one that I share about each week (even when I don’t feel I have much to write about!). It’s not about the perfection, but about the journey, the process, the “begin to be” action word. Butterflies are one of my favourite symbols of this journey. You will notice them on our logo and blog banner… because they give us a very clear example of how our lives are changed from the touch of Christ: we start out as lumpy, worm like caterpillars and emerge as changed beings… still fragile and delicate but beautiful nonetheless. It’s an image that makes me smile. What will you “begin to be” this week, my beloved?

Photo by Alexander Löwe on Unsplash

Blissful Rest

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One of my favourite things to do on the weekends is sleep in. After a long work week, there is nothing more I look forward to than snuggling under the covers way past the alarm. I am sure there are those of you who are reading this with great distain, saying things like “but the day is half over”, “you’d be so much more productive if you got up early” and “it’s not good for you to get that much sleep”. My response? Bah, humbug. This nighthawk loves her comfort zone.

According to my internet searches, the average person sleeps about a third of their lifetime, some 229,961 hours of blissful rest. On average, we are sleeping a few hours less than we did 10 years ago. Something about workaholics, artificial light and caffeine… again, I say, Bah humbug. Studies say that the women are sleeping longer than men, but 55 per cent of Canadian women aged 18 to 64 reported troubles falling asleep or staying asleep “sometimes/most of the time/ all of the time.” Only 43 per cent of men reported the same trouble in drifting off. I guess I am not your average woman. (wink, wink)

Photo by Kinga Cichewicz on Unsplash

Of course, there are seasons in life when sleep is precious. New parents know what I am talking about. Come to think of it, parents of teenagers know what I am talking about too. Especially teenagers that can drive your car. I can’t wait until those senior years when naps come back into your life with abundance. Now, I will admit, there are times when I think… I should get up and be more productive, I should get my devotional or prayer time on track and get that hour in the first of the day. Don’t farmers have to be up at the crack of dawn for their chickens? Rooster crow and all that? I might be in trouble. I am just not a morning person.

I’ve heard there are people that have trouble sleeping. Sorry, can’t relate. I’m one of those, hit the pillow and be snoring 5 minutes later folk. And it is not because I don’t think about things…the blog is called mittonmusings, after all. I just don’t let my mind or my worries keep me up at night. Blessed, I know. Apologies to those of you who struggle with this, I understand it is a difficult thing to “turn off” your brain and shut down. I’ve heard there are tips and tricks to master this… google it.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:28:

“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

NASB

I don’t know who might need to hear that today, but there it is. It’s a pretty straightforward answer. No gimmicks, no oils, no teas, no white noise or pills. When your mind is racing and the thoughts won’t slow down, true rest is only found in the one who sees your every waking hour… and your sleeping ones. His peace and assurance is truly comforting. May you rest well, my beloveds.

God Shaped Spaces

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So, my friends, how is your week going? Over here? Well. In addition to the province-wide lockdown and three kids trying to do school from home, the internet decides to crash and burn today, so no one got much done. Parents and teachers are frustrated. My grocery bill is creeping up now that the teenagers are home full time. Our work week has been a crazy-filled mix of Covid restrictions and further precautions…simply adding to the stress. Cases are going up but we are hearing of friends getting shot up (with vaccines that is). Apparently we are in a virus hotspot… or we have too many friends that are old. My house is slightly disastrous as I’ve been trying to catch up on housework, but a persistent sniffle held me back from regular tidying and sent me into panic mode (Do I get tested? Will that inflict a forced isolation on my only remaining co-worker? How many different medications are you allowed to take together to prevent a cold?) Not to mention the puppy is still as crazy as ever and is still sneaking things off the counters. And then, yes, and then…. while dutifully brushing my teeth and flossing well before bed one night last week… boom! a giant chunk of rock popped out of my tooth… an already paid for filling… now sitting in my hand! Thankfully the space left is not painful… just annoyingly present and causing me to aimlessly probe it with my tongue every few minutes. Why do we unconsciously do that when something goes awry in our mouths? It’s like our tongue has a mind of it’s own.

Yet, I am reminded that there are always blessings. Even when we are in the midst of chaos and upheaval … We have a good God who is in control and sees our day to day. We are blessed to still be working and earning steady incomes. The kids eat because we can fill the cupboards without worrying. Our little urban garden seedlings are growing steadily… ready to sprout out in the big, wide world soon. I hear the spring birds call to each other every morning. And the dog is pretty cute most of the time. I really can’t complain about the stage I’m in. Many others are far worse off than our few “inconveniences”.

Still, as I was contemplating this week about how crazy this empty space is in my mouth, my mind began to wander a bit about how often we fill up our God shaped spaces in our hearts. I’ve heard it said that we have a “God shaped” space in the depths of our hearts where only the perfect puzzle piece fits. That puzzle piece is our relationship with our Creator. Like a little signature spot made just for the designer of a masterpiece (that’s you and me, by the way). It’s like this hole in my tooth: we probe it with our mind-of-their-own tongues and unconsciously look for something to fill it with. Perhaps we look for relationships to fill the space. And how many relationships fall apart because they are not the right “fit?” Or wealth? Or the pursuit of education, or keeping up appearances, or fighting for justice, or who knows. So many of us have gapping holes we know need filling, but the fillings eventually just become another hunk of rock and fall out, leaving a blank space.

And so, as I think about all the craziness that has gone on in our house in the last few weeks, and share it here with you, I’m sure you have your own stories to add. Perhaps, like me, you will be graciously reminded that there is a perfect little spot in your heart for God to move into. And once He settles in, you’ll notice a little bit of peace starts penetrating through the darkness of Covid and lockdowns and the crazies of life. He shines a little light in, just enough for you to focus on the blessings each day. Which makes me smile. A filling-less toothy smile, that will have to be fixed soon. Take a number, dentist.