My morning coffee is often the perfect time to browse through inspirational quotes and essays, opening my mind and heart to those morsels of wisdom that just click into some struggle happening within me. Today offered such a moment of serendipity, and I’d like to share it with you. I hope you’ll join the conversation.
It floors me. How common is this? With such enormous appetites for everything from food to material luxuries and even friendships or romance, how often are we chasing after more than we need, or how often do we fail to notice dreams that have already come true? I know I am guilty of this from time to time. And not just when we frequent the Friday Night country auction, though that is a great example. I mean, I don’t care what Pinterest says… A person only needs so many rusted antique milk cans or empty wooden frames that want to be painted turquoise…
We can accumulate more than we need in many areas of life, continuing to pursue duplicates or poor imitations of treasures already at our feet.
Handsome and I watched a news segment this morning about a pink diamond ring being auctioned off for charity, at a ridiculous value. The female news anchors, doing their jobs, oohed and ahhed over the sparkly bauble then took turns trying it on. They each slipped it on their wedding ring fingers where beautiful diamond rings already sat. This really bothered me, that a woman would put another diamond ring where her wedding ring sits, just because the second ring is pretty. To each her own, but really. To me, that speaks volumes.
Then about ten minutes later I read the above quote from Rumi, and it lept off the page. Err, phone screen.
I am not looking for diamond rings, by the way. That was just an interesting coincidence. But this does remind me of a sparkly wrap bracelet I bought about a year and a half ago on a frivolous shopping trip with my friend Marci. It is missing about a third of its stones but is so pretty, and so odd, that I wear it all the time. It cost like nine bucks.
Anyway, to add yet another layer of coincidence, Marci happened to called me out of the blue yesterday with some of the most encouraging words I have heard in a long time.
Read into this as much or as little as suits you, but for me I am taking all of this as a big, happy clue to examine my yearnings. Do you remember the Worry Door story, and how it is supposed to be closed tight, forever? What phantoms do I still allow to creep up and and terrify me, and what dreams am I still chasing frantically, that perhaps have already come true?
I have this slightly weird belief that some prayers can be answered in advance, at a far distance; they just take a little time to become visible. That is when faith bridges the distance, the waiting period.
That is when I have to trust that the diamond necklace I am hunting in every room is already around my neck. Or my wrist. So I just close my eyes and imagine it. And give thanks for it. And stop hunting. And allow the Worry Door to remain closed.
What phantoms chase you around, trying to terrify you and fling open your Worry Door? Let it stay closed, man. What dream are you pursuing, hunting like a diamond necklace in every room? Perhaps it is already around your neck.Or your wrist. I’m not suggesting that worry has no place in life, or that we should stop dreaming big dreams. Just that sometimes it’s good to stop and notice how abundantly blessed we already are, and how many treasures already belong to us.
Be Happy.
And if You Have a Friend Like Marci,
Give Her a Hug.
xoxoxo
Heather @ new house, new home, new life says
As you probably know by now, I’m always pursuing perfection. Just to be dissappointed. It’s what keeps me awake at night.
Oh and I worry about retirement (which is looming)
Marie Wreath says
I can totally see that about you, Heather. I guess the pursuit of perfection is good in that it raises our standards and motivates us… But it’s also potentially damaging. You have such a beautiful home and family and marriage, but I sense that you have precious little “down” time built into your schedule, unless you are sick or injured. LOL You seem to enjoy your life, but don’t get burnt out. xoxo As for retirement, you seem WAY too young for that! I guess it’s just semantics and money, though, not age. Love you. Be happy!!
Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door says
Hi, Sweet Friend! Thank you so much for this post. Again, you insight and gift was just what I needed this evening. Blessings!
Elizabeth says
Wow! Wow! Wow! Beautiful stuff!