99 Onions and 2 Burly Bailiffs

(Let me begin by thanking my charming and beautiful friend Traci for bugging the heck out of me to resume blogging! She's a pistol, that one! :)

I might have typed earlier, but I've been in hibernation, you know. Working... reading... sleeping... dating... typing... talking.... the last few weeks have been a blur. (Of course, there was also that intentionally-induced coma the week of Valentine's Day. Or, as Traci likes to call it, "Singles' Awareness Day".) Hehe.

Needless to say, it's easy to fall into a chronic case of winter doldrums this time of year. That's probably why Max Lucado's book Cure for the Common Life catapulted itself from the store shelf into my hands last night. (I snatched that puppy up like a chocoholic does Chunky Monkey.) I was riveted by the title. There's a CURE for a common life? Really??

Let me preface this next ditty by saying I never before had a "common" life. I'm probably not what my friends would call a "common" girl. When I was 9, I took great pleasure in planting 99 onions. For fun. When I was 18, I got hauled into court by two very burly court bailiffs because I had illegally taped courtroom proceedings and aired them in 6 counties without the court's permission. (That was a fun day, too.) When I was 27.... oh, wait. I'm not 27 yet. But I'm sure I'll do something horrifically idiotic when I'm 27 that will trump the 99 onions and two burly bailiffs.

But that was before, and this is now. In the last year or two, my life has slowed dramatically. It's become - common. I do ordinary things now that result in ordinary stories. I suddenly find myself caught in the ebb and flow of a common life....

"What to do, Max Lucado?" I cried. "What to do??!!"

I cracked open the book last night after an exhilarating round of internet dating. (That's a whole 'nother blog!) The first thing my common eyes fell upon was this verse:

Each person is given something to do that shows who God is. - 1 Cor. 12:7 MSG

Oh no. Oh crap. "Who God is?" I read further, hoping I'd catch a disclaimer or misprint. But no, Lucado ventures boldly on. "God endows us with gifts so we can make Him known. Period.... Exhibit God with your uniqueness.... And to really dulcify your world, use your uniqueness to make a big deal about God.... every day of your life."

I sat there. I just sat. For some reason, that half-page of text floored me unlike any common reading has done in some time. So I guess that I was made... and my life was fashioned... to exhibit a character trait of none other than God Himself?

Wow.

WOW.

I am living proof that God has the most humorous, hilarious, and patient 'My-ways-are-higher-than-your-ways' personality. I mean, come on! A 9 year-old girl that gets a kick out of planting 99 onions? Who would make a kid like that?

I guess "common" is relative. And probably all in your head, too. And speaking from this particular head, I'll probably never really have a common life! But maybe, just maybe, that's the whole point after all....

Epicurus on Square One

I'm back there again. You know, back to the proverbial 'square one' that leaves you cognizant that you spend half your life going in circles.

Oh... wait. Maybe that's just me. :)

Regardless, it's frustrating to devote time and effort to something that bares no fruit. Or leaves. Or slimy sap that ruins your car's paint job. Especially when it's a circumstance or person beyond your control.

Oh... wait. EVERY circumstance and person is beyond my control....

You have me. Guy troubles again. Love them. Hate them. (Mostly love-hate them.) Some days I have no idea why I even brush my hair or buy cute shoes.

I read this today, however, and it left me with a B.C. buzz:

"Do not spoil what you have

By desiring what you have not;

But remember that what you now have

Was once among things only hoped for."

- Epicurus

(Not that I'm in the habit of reading Epicurus over my Bible, but the little ditty did resonate with me today.)

Anyway, if you're back to your own proverbial square one, maybe this will help. And heck, while you're here, bring your coffee over and sit with me.