Fast forward to yesterday, and I'm sitting in church; it's about 90 degrees in there. I don't like being hot. Have I ever said this? The whole way to church I said little prayers to the flower angels (?) (I believe, so they are real.) (Are all these parentheses legal?) that my arrangements made it through the night. My church has no a/c. It's New England. It's an old, old church. The math actually works out on this one. The flowers survived just fine, but as I'm sitting there sweating out last night's chardonnay, all I can do is silently critique my flower arrangements. I think I could have cut two sunflowers by about three inches in the left vase....wait! GAH. And get this, the lesson and sermon yesterday were all about the parable of the weeds in the wheat. (Matthew I think--sorry-- IT WAS HOT, have you heard? And focusing was difficult.):
You have to learn to live with the weeds in life. If you rip out all the weeds, you risk ripping out all the good stuff. It's all okay. Beautiful, actually.
Then, sorry for this long post but it was a long day I met Lucia for a bit of brunch before we headed to my hacienda for a float in the mallard pond pool. On the way home, I passed a blind couple crossing a major intersection.
They had heavy backpacks, and both had canes. The male was leading the way across a very busy street and his lady-friend was holding on to his backpack. Both of their canes were tapping away in the sweltering heat. I was transfixed in that one moment, and luckily, I am happy to report that all the drivers were paying enough attention for once, and all this was a seamless crossing. But I was left with my own weeds thoughts. What is really important in this world? How hot am I, really? Is hot something that important? Arguably a tough one for me....
Don't we all live in the weeds? If we're honest? I love seeing the wheat thrive. Even the wheat needs some canes and some benevolent weeds fellow travelers.
31 comments:
Very deep today. I think the heat has affected you, hope your pond/pool was just the trick to cool you off. I wish you a great week as well. You should have posted pictures of your FLOWERS!
I don't do hot very well, either. In fact, it's 12:30 on Monday morning and I can't sleep because my husband has turned off the AC in the house. A rainstorm came through, but did it cool anything down? Not really. Maybe a little. Our bedroom is stifling so I'm out here in the living room with the fan. Hey, who's in charge here anyway? I thought I was!!!
"Louis" has a question: do you like the heat?
You weren't very clear about this, and "Louis" is confused....
(Editor to "Louis:" You are ALWAYS confused!
"Louis" to Editor: I wish I could form my hoof into one of those gestures so many drivers use. I would dedicate it to you....)
LOL at this post! I would love to meet and visit you...but you see, I LOVE the heat! I thrive when that Indiana humidity is high! This is where we would differ. 'Tho apparently I am the only one who feels this way about heat. Everyone else arounds me likes to be in AC...I'm sure the flowers were perfect and beautiful!I like the idea that you put them together yourself! Our church, you give them the $$ and we have a florist do them. I Like your way better!!
I think we all learn to thrive in our circumstances or we change our circumstances. Some change for the better, some not. The weeds seem to prompt either change or acceptance.
I did not realize it was so hot there!
Mama! You surprised me on this one...someone's mood has changed :)
Aside from Annie choosing golf over helping you and your purdy flowers survive the sweltering heat and providing happiness to church goers....this post was so thought provoking!
If our eyes are open, we can always see our problems seem small in relation to others.
Oh, and it's really FRIGGIN HOT in NC!(but we have A/C everywhere) :)
Something always makes me stop and realize that my issues are not really that bad. I like that we are given these unexpected lessons when we really need them.
Hallie
I am a permanent resident of the weeds. Way tall, deep, deep weeds. I was there yesterday during church which has ac, but also has metal folding chairs. Then the pastor said something which made me leave my weeds temporarily. It took me about 10 minutes to get right back into my weeds. That kind of stinks.
I agree about the HOT! Living in the South has really been hard for this born-and-raised-in-the-Midwestern girl!
Um, yeah, to all of it. However.
The hot? Yes, it is too important. Hot-flash-hot, night-sweat-hot, mental-p-hot. Please to not EVER minimize the hot.
Otherwise, it's all good :).
Good morning miss cross-out, parentheses and underlining girl! I guess you wanted to make sure you are using ALL the possible functions on your lappy top! Ha!
Yes, I totally live in the weeds...all the time...if there were no weeds, I'd have nothing to do!
I hate being hot...and being menopausal, I am hot alot.
I have alot of weeds in my life and I love them! GREAT post even with all the cross outs and stuff!
yeah what you said...
It is hot. Hot, hot, hot. I think next vacation we're going to the Smoky Mountains. But more on that later.
This was a great post - funny, apt, and with a lesson that's not frowny and preachy, just the kind that makes you ponder.
Weeds...I love the weeds...
And I hate being "hot" hot, but wish I were "hot" hot - you know, as in turned heads a whistle here and there....(sigh)
I agree with the heat...it is six months of BAD MOOD for me!!! Right now we have the humidity as high as the heat here in the monsoon weather of the GREAT ARIZONA DESERT!!!! Yuck! I loved your post today and I am sure your flowers were beautiful...sometimes we need little reminders and the weeds seem to humble me pretty quickly...the toxic relationships, substances and emotions that feed on our energy and take away from what we have to give to others...cravings are weeds of the mind and I need a large diet coke! Careful cultivation is in store here and I need to eleminate so much that is draining my concentration and wisdom and energy...off to pulling some weeds! I tend to learn more sometime when I bend down than when I soar...
Okay, I can clearly see that the heat is making you a deeper thinker than usual. You know I'm with you on disliking the heat.
I like the weeds in my life... and there are so many. Like I've said before, I never liked a friend because I thought they were perfect. I rather like kooky friends, because they're seldom boring. So, they may be considered weeds, but I look at them as being more like wildflowers.
always in the weeds. what fun would it be to not to.
Hope you have a cooler Monday!
Very beautiful Mental P Mama. You expressed it perfectly. Truly you did. I am so short on time today and anyway, if I wrote any more, well, you may tire of it. But, I loved it.
Liz
Embrace the weeds I say - but then with the state of my front flowerbeds I don't have much choice!
Oh this is so true and you put it so well. If I didn't live amongst the weeds I wouldn't appreciate the good stuff because there would be nothing to compare it to.
About hot.....I hate hot as well. I won't even think about liking it. I am stubborn that way.
Amen, Mama! Great story. And in case you didn't know it, yes, those parentheses are not only necessary they are mandatory.
Signed,
Parentheses and Extraneous Words and Run-On Sentence Queen and Over-Abuser of Conjunctions such as AND. (Is that a conjunction? I have no idea.)
yes this is why i don't go to church: the *heat*. yeah, otherwise, oh yeah, i'd so be there...
probably.
You're hilarious. :) For a nanosecond I thought you'd passed two blind people driving the other way. I pass blind drivers all the time - at least they drive like they're blind.
I love that parable. I'm reminded of it more often than I want to be. Love your application of it. :)
I don't do heat, either. I'm a fan of not pulling out all the weeds. Good lesson. Along with chardonnay sweat, which I have regularly, with flashes of course.
I do feel like a BIG idiot. Where did I get the idea your 16 year old twins have graduated and are on to college THIS year! I had to go back to January posts to find out how old they are! Geesh!!
You have two years to go, girl!!
Oh Mama Mia!!
Beautiful deep post Mama. I hate hot as much as you do. I don't know if I could have went to a church with no a/c at all. Shame on me but I would opt out in the summer months. I have weeds in my life and they make it more fun for me. You either adapt or you don't. Some weeds you just can't control and no point in trying.
Just visited here for the first time ever (and I have to say..wow!). I can relate to everything you said in this post. (And you are funny, too!) I totally love the photos in other posts of Helen Mirren and Nicole Kidman, too (I am working on losing all my baby fat too...and my youngest is seven). Your free use of parentheses has liberated me, too (thanks)!
Dont get me started on my weeds.
peace
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