The Closet That Holds Everything

It's normal after the excesses of the holiday season to toss out, consolidate, sort and otherwise organize our stuff. Finding places to put everything is somewhat of a challenge for us 'first-worlders'. We have so much and where to put it?

Organizing twenty pairs of shoes is a snap, however, compared to organizing the mind. There I run into a snag very similar to the problem of the clutter I must weed though in my house. Things which I cannot understand are like odds and ends out of place. They can block my peace of mind and drain away my energy. Often, there are circumstances I cannot control and even more puzzling is the question of what to do with the regret and disappointment that I myself have caused.

Many people use a system of organization for their possessions. I believe a system of organization exists for those errant thoughts as well. It is found in the Bible. "For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God." All things? Could this be an awfully big and accommodating closet into which I can put all the troubling thoughts and events of life? In fact, it seems that after I've put in everything I can think of, there's still room for more. That physical disability, those youthful decisions, that money problem, those pesky relatives. Far from taking away every problem, this filing system merely relegates thoughts to the wisdom of God. A safe harbor, a balm for the slings and arrows of life.

God has promised that every part of this life is to be somehow crafted into good. Astounding. Open the door, please, I'm throwing in my disbelief.

Searching for Gravitas

My mother and I went shopping yesterday. Lots of mothers and daughters do that all the time, right? Not this pair. My mother doesn't really enjoy shopping. But, every now and then, it has to be done. We strategically  began with breakfast at Village Bakery, making it infinitely more palatable for Mom. She's almost always up for a breakfast out.


An omelet and three half-eaten pastries later we were on our way, doggie bag in hand, to a department store nearby.  We had done our best, and saved the rest to take home, my mother's motto being "No pastry left behind".

Seven months ago we had been sitting in the doctor's office facing her diagnosis of breast cancer. Imagining this scene would have been a stretch for both of us. At the time, I don't think we dared look ahead too far. But, here we were!

We scanned the aisles of Kohl's and she rejected one sweater on these grounds,"I want something with more gravitas than that." Gravitas can be defined as a quality of substance or depth of personality. Depth, substance. Everyone who knows my mother would agree she possesses both. She is Judi Dench, but nicely. Or perhaps Angela Lansbury with a fiercely spiritual side. And not every article of clothing is befitting for a woman of mature years. It might be either too frilly, too pale a color, or not enough hardware on it. Yes, my mother likes hardware. But hardware with the kind of  elegance that glitters, dazzles, blinds, maims...well you get the idea. The more bling, the better. We trolled the clearance jewelry as well, and again, gravitas was the deciding factor along with glitz and glam.Half price didn't hurt either.

Delightedly she found a bevy of sweaters and tops she could shine through the holidays with, as well as a bejeweled necklace that passed the test.

I couldn't have been happier!