Encouragement

In The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society book, the main character, Juliet, rides a bus through the streets of London in the aftermath of World War II. Recognizing evidence of efforts to restore order and normalcy, she makes this observation:

The sun is out for the first time in months, and if I stand on my chair and crane my neck, I can see it sparkling on the river. I’m averting my eyes from the mounds of rubble across the street and pretending London is beautiful again.

The imagery of this passage is reminiscent to me of another passage, this one from scripture.

Isaiah 43:19 states:

See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland. 

Oftentimes, our lives can crumble around us resembling a pile of rubble. In the midst of such times, what comfort to recall the words of the prophet who reminds us that we have one who goes before us. He can forge a path for us. He can supply refreshment when it is needed most.

Imagine standing up on a chair to perceive a better view. Reach up further, maybe on tiptoe, craning your neck, peering out the window. Straining your eyes, search the horizon. Look! Beyond the remains of hurts and disappointments. Beyond the evidence of turmoils and brokenness in our path. Catch that glimmer of hope that is just there. It winks and gleams, much like the sparkle of light on water. There it is.

Look.

Can you see it?

He is doing a new thing!

Years ago, while still a young bride, I often made my own dresses, curtains, etc. to help save money in college. Back then, it was actually more affordable to buy a pattern, cloth, thread, etc. and to put in the work required than it is today.

During this time, a friend complimented me on a finished product, expressing a lament that she did not share that particular skill. When I encouraged her to learn some basic sewing techniques, she dismissed the idea as beyond her reach. She stated that she had tried once before, and failed. Therefore, she concluded, it was something she was incapable of learning.

My reaction was to immediately attempt to disabuse her of the notion that one failure was a definitive sign that success was forever beyond her reach. I then recounted to her the many, many, many mistakes I have made over several years, and still do. One of the most frustrating realities about sewing is the patience required to take out stitches, redo seams, or start over altogether.

I then shared what my mother taught me when I was just a beginning seamstress. My mom encouraged me to shop the bargain bin in the fabric store. Her advise was to choose an inexpensive material that I liked. That way, if I was successful in my endeavor I would be pleased to showcase the result. However, if I botched things beyond repair the sting of loss would not be greater than my desire to try again. As I gained confidence and skill I moved beyond the sale rack into finer fabrics with confidence in my abilities to make something presentable.

My friend shocked me when she exclaimed, “Brilliant! Your mother gave you permission to make mistakes.” I had never actually seen this perspective before, but it is correct. When trying to learn something new we must give ourselves permission to make mistakes.

If what we are attempting to learn does not come naturally to us there needs to be a mindset that mistakes are not only inevitable but allowed. It is, after all, through our mistakes that we often learn the most. For instance, it only took one time for me to erroneously sew a pair of pants side to side rather than front to back to remember forever more how to do it correctly. Each unripped seam, tossed project, or do-over, is a lesson marking progress toward becoming competent in something that was once unfamiliar or unknown.

Yesterday was my birthday. The older I am, the more reflective I become at milestones such as anniversaries and birthdays. The closer I get to 50 (still in the future but looming ever nearer), the more I seem to wrestle with life choices: what do I really want to do with my life, how do I want to be remembered, what can I do that will make a difference, and what changes ought I to be making to better utilize my gifts and the time I have on this earth? These are all questions that come to the forefront of my mind during these times of contemplation.

Looking back, I remember accomplishments of which I am proud, such as returning to school after a 13 year hiatus to complete a Masters Degree with 4 children ages 12 to 1 underfoot. But, strangely, as proud as I was to have completed that degree, and to walk across that stage to accept my diploma, there was something else that happened on that day that made me even prouder.

Shortly before the graduation ceremony there was a reception for the graduates and their families with the faculty and staff of the school. I was pleased to have the opportunity for my husband and four sons (then ages 16 to 4) to attend this function with me. Several of the professors took the time to congratulate all of my boys, husband included, for their help in my accomplishment, recognizing the sacrifice that our entire family had made. It was an enjoyable time with my teachers, classmates, family, as well as additional faculty and staff, including the school President.

A short time later, we all assembled in the auditorium for the graduation ceremony. My name was called and I proceeded across the stage. Imagine my surprise when I shook the President’s hand and he leaned in to say, “You have very well behaved boys.”

Oh, how my heart swelled. On a day when I was being publicly recognized for an accomplishment the world values, I was privately commended for something which I valued even more.

Last night, reflecting on life on my birthday eve, my husband shared a verse with me that puts life contemplations into perspective. Ecclesiastes 9:7ff. encourages, “Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.” Looking back on my life choices I realize the blessings of a life lived in relationship with God. Looking forward, this verse also gives me a plumb line to live life fully. As I read further in Ecclesiastes 9, I realize that I can relieve a lot of the pressure I have felt in making my life choices so complicated and monumentally heavy by following the words of the writer.

It is not so much about what we choose to pursue as it is about doing well with whatever we choose.