Appearances

 August 11, 2020

“It feels like I’ve wasted the day,” she offered.

I responded, “How can you say that when you spent it with me?” 

Linda and I both like to feel we’ve accomplished something by the end of the day, and starting the day with a visit to the eye doctor, then having coffee together on the patio at Panera before checking out a couple of the few stores left in the mall didn’t feel like accomplishment to her. I beg to differ. Conversation over a cup of joe is never time wasted, and today our talk ranged from our granddaughter’s wedding to the limitations imposed by our governor in response to COVID to how God has blessed us so we’re able to freely give to our friends in Cuba.

Once home, she took the littlest granddaughter to the beach while I ran an errand to the post office before measuring the back yard for Abi and Jake’s wedding reception, A little work for the village board, an early dinner followed by conversation with a few of the regulars at the swimming hole before repairing the recliner Abi bought from a friend a few months ago concluded with putting everything away and picking beans while Linda visited with our daughter in law

The Dr. said to put hot compresses on my eye, so as soon as I finish typing, that’s what I’m going to do. What started as a pretty benign day with nothing getting accomplished has turned out to be a full, and fulfilling, day. 

We are told in Scripture to be very careful about passing judgment. We usually think of this in terms of judging other people, but it also applies to judging the value of experiences and even of those times where we are sidelined for whatever reason. The Bible says the judgment only comes at the very end of time. There is a reason for that. We never know in the middle of life the value of any single part of it. That which seems useless or wasted may be the very thing God uses to completely change the trajectory of our lives, and those things we deem so important often turn out to be rabbit trails in disguise. This day offered up more than it first appeared. Someday, the Great and Mighty will find themselves taking a back seat to the humble and unknown who lived with great dignity and integrity amidst circumstances most appalling. The beginning is no measure of the end, which gives me both great caution and great comfort.