Simple Things

On Monday evening we had a very nice shower of rain at our place—the rain gauge measured an inch.  Apparently it was one of those spotty showers that not everyone got; next time we may not be so fortunate.  As I emptied the rain gauge the next morning, I breathed a prayer of thanks for the rain.  Gift…sheer gift, all that rain.  Not that the ground has been particularly dry (some farmers are having a hard time making hay), but I didn’t do a lick of work for that rain, did nothing to earn it, and nothing to deserve it.  It just showed up, watered all the plants and shrubbery for us, and blessed us abundantly while we sat on the screen porch and enjoyed it.  Simple, and simply blessed.

A rain shower is not exactly a simple thing, what with all the convective activity of air currents, humidity, changing temperatures with altitude, etc., that go into creating a thunderstorm like this one (and how in the world does the atmosphere hold the weight of all that moisture aloft until it decides to let it go—whoosh?!), but emptying the rain gauge got me thinking about the simple things in life—the kind of things that seem small and simple at the time but in the grand view of life turn out to become hugely significant.  Likely most of our mothers tried to teach us to “enjoy the simple things in life, for one day we will look back and realize they were actually big things”…or some version of that classic wisdom.
So, how about an assignment this week:  create a list of simple things that have become big things for you—perhaps have even transformed your life.  And if you are willing, how about posting some of them on the Weavers Church Congregation Facebook page?!  Here are a few things on my list:
 

• 6:00 a.m. dates with Janine each work-day morning on the porch swing, including the weekends that Janine works.  These morning routines began when the coronavirus upended our lives and going to work was uncertain and frightening for Janine without PPE and protocols to keep everyone safe.  The two of us just needed a good 20 minutes or more of being together in solidarity with each other before Janine went off to work at 6:30.  Now that things are better, we continue this morning ritual.  It’s a very simple thing, just snuggling on the porch swing for 20 minutes talking about life, listening to each other’s heart, listening to God, and just being together.  Simple, but transforming.
• Watching a family of bluebirds owning the bluebird house we recently put on a fencepost a mere 20 feet from our screen porch, and observing in real life that these birds “neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them” (Mt.6:26).By all appearances, this family of bluebirds have quite an idyllic life, and they truly do not seem worried about life.  How different from the way I have lived my life at times!  Simple birds, living simply, with more wisdom than I will ever know. 
• Texts and photos sent from our kids, Zooming and Duoing with our grandkids.  Four months ago we didn’t even know Zoom and Duo existed, or how silly-simple these platforms are to use.  Of course, there is a lot of complexity behind these electronic ways of communicating, but who wants to go back to only talking on the phone, or seeing each other once a month, or once every 3 or 4 months, when you can see each other every week?!  Simple, but profoundly meaningful—more so as we get older.
• Daily acts of kindness—from lots of different people.  These acts remind me that the work of God is often accomplished through simple, small acts that demonstrate the love of God.  They are cumulative; string faithfully together many small acts of kindness and you might change the world.  Never underestimate the power of small.  Your list of simple things perhaps should include not only acts of kindness and charity that you have received from others, but simple things you have done for others as well. 

 
Someone said, “The only difference between contentment and discontent is gratitude for simple things.”  So make your list!  And if you have trouble sleeping, and counting sheep doesn’t help, think about more simple things to put on your list.  “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, and what you will wear.  Life is more than food or clothing…and if God cares for the birds and the grass of the field, will he not care for you?”  (Matt.6:25-34, paraphrased).
 
Phil Kanagy, pastor
June 24, 2020