Sunday, April 30, 2006

Out of the Ordinary

"Now here is a question: how many ills of our day stem simply from an abandonment of one's place, or from a refusal to acknowledge that one must occupy any place at all ?"
(touchstone magazine)

Did you know that the Greek word 'cosmos' doesn't simply mean the universe? It means 'a world wherein things are in their fitting, proper, or most becoming place'.

I would love to be extrodinary. But I am beginning to value the great worth of being ordinary. 99% of creation is ordinary. It's where the God of the cosmos finds them to be "most becoming".


A new friend reminded me recently how much there is to love about my ordinary life. (thanks Amy) Here is my (partial) list of what I love about my life, read it & then tell me some of your loves too.
Dreaming about attics, castles, adventures, Prince Edward Island, and exploring ruins, Daughters who share those dreams; thunderstorms, sleepy hidden villages, classic stories, dainty pink rosebuds, being loved by God, blowing the downy fluff of dandelions, being moved by music (esp. the music of Mozart, Vivaldi, the Celts, James Taylor, Nat King Cole, Lifehouse, Bebo Norman, Christmas, Louis Armstrong...), having a husband & son who make their own music, the sound of: rippling brooks, crashing waves, birdsong, chirrupping of crickets, whirring of hummingbird wings, creaky screen doors, our Cricket snoring, rain drops on my roof, Scottish accents, breezes in the Aspen grove, ice in a glass of green tea, bumbly buzz of bees, James saying my name, horses galloping across sod, pages turning... The feel of: being cuddled close, flannel sheets, crisp Autumn air, tingles of goosebumps, cashmere, anticipation, warm velvet, chenile bedspreads, walking through ferns, rocking a baby, takeoff in a plane, being right, a sleigh ride, being secure, going barefoot in clover, being obeyed, Cricket's kisses, being finished!, pussywillows, featherbeds, kissles, a good laugh... The taste of: Morrocan food, Peach and Pear Jelly Bellies, dry roasted peanuts, Sour Patch Kids, Banana popsicles, ceasar salad, cheesecake, sun ripened tomatoes, raspberries off the vine, honeysuckle... The scent of : Lilacs, wet dirt, leather, musty old cellars, peaches ripening in the sun, after the rain, wassail, pine/cedar, clean linens, kiddos fresh from the bath, saw dust, lavendar, sunscreen, cinnamin, old books, ginger... The sight of: Horefrost, the sunrise & set, new buds, mistletoe & holly, friends' faces, Christmas trees, fresh fallen snow, Monet's paintings, wrought iron gates, rock walls, cobblestone cottages, grandfather clocks, chickadees, bubbles, a roaring fire, our flag being carried by soldiers, swans, Maine, otters, smiles, James arriving home, Tasha Tudor's art, porch swings, maryjane shoes, clawfoot tubs, fresh scrubbed toes, Barbara Cooney's stories and art, skeleton keys, dew on a spiderweb, bunny tails, a Starbucks, white picket fences, my slippers at the end of the day, tree-canopied winding paths, windowboxes filled with flowers, fog, Lights on the water, arched doorways, babysbreath...
What about this ordinary life thrills you to your toes?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

How sweet! They don't seem so ordinary now. Here are some from me.
chubby baby feet, a good nights sleep, seeing understanding dawn, a contented sigh, a quiet house, finding enough change in the couch cushions for a cone at McD's, moss, trinkets & baubles, chai, knowing my kisses are the ones that chase away the tears.

Amy Witt said...

What a great list. Thanks for yours. I'd love to see a horefrost and I love to ride horseback though I don't get to do it now since we live in town.

Anonymous said...

It's a great reminder that my life is anything but ordinary. Here are some of mine~
fairy tales, the look of gossimere, jazz, dancing in bare feet, twinkle lights, late night talks in whispered tones, jasmine, change in my pocket.

Anonymous said...

I have to chime in! It was good to sit and think of things that make me feel extrodinary!

Shiny lipgloss, swishy skirts, corporate worship, harmony, Jane Austen Novels, watching the wrens bicker, and the sparrows take dust baths, pizza with oozy cheese, and the sound of the coffee pot finishing it's first morning perk!

Deeapaulitan said...

Want to hear something funny ladies? I love all those things too! Our God is so amazing. To let us live in a world where even the ordinary becomes extrordinary in our lives because He has touched it and caused us to see it with our hearts and not simply our eyes. How cool is that?

Anonymous said...

Can a guy get in on this?
Swooshin through fresh powder, freshly mown lawn and a cold beer with the weekend ahead, doin' nothin, the smell of the garage (oil, dirt, a little petrol and sweat - mmm - OH YEAH BABY!), competition ,friendly of course ;), family, friends, and steak on the barbe.

Deeapaulitan said...

That was deep Mick. I have a lawn that you can freshly mow for the weekend ahead anytime you are in this hemisphere... I will even throw on a steak and pour you a tall one if you'll bring Winni with you! Great to hear from you 2! Now you need to get a blog of your own so I can post 'Deep' comments on yours!