Common Threads #06

Concerts, family visits, and the importance of these small hours.

Hey friends,

These past few weeks have been overflowing. Again and again, I’ve been reminded of the importance of being present in it all.

I took a good friend who just had a baby a meal, visited my best friend for her 40^th birthday celebration. My kids started their hybrid (yay!), went to two concerts (Rob Thomas and Alabama Shakes), watched multiple soccer games between my kids, and picked my mom up from the airport for a visit. Tomorrow, my younger sister arrives from out of town as well, and I have just been overloaded with a lot of joy lately. Grateful to God for the gifts he’s given in abundance!

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With all that’s been going on, it’s been nearly impossible to make time to write. The only thing I posted during this time was a reflective piece about my morning routine and the grace I receive from it. You can read that HERE.

Per many writers’ recommendations, I bought the book “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield, and have been working my way through it. The idea of resistance has been incredibly enlightening. Pressfield says that “resistance is experienced as fear…the more fear we feel, the more certain we can be that the enterprise is important to us and to the growth of our soul.” I often feel this undulation, and sometimes the valleys are paralyzing. Knowing that resistance is not just a “me” thing, but a human thing is helpful in the fight to be creative.

I also started listening to some podcast episodes with the author, and I have to say there is one elemental thing I disagree with. Pressfield says that we need to find the “thing” that we were put on this earth to do. Whatever that is, we need to pursue it in order to avoid missing out and experiencing the “unlived” life. All that kept coming to mind when he was speaking of this is the Church’s teachings on vocation. While we all have different gifts from God (charisms), none of these gifts are meant to be our end in life. We may be good at writing or some other thing, but if we set it aside to prioritize our vocation—like for me, being a wife and mother—it doesn’t mean we are failing in our purpose. The Church reminds us that our ultimate purpose is to know, love and serve God. We don’t need to find one single creative “thing” that defines us; we can know, love, and serve God in many ways. Just something I’ve been thinking about, especially as I’ve been more intentional about writing. It’s easy to get disheartened because I can’t find time to do it—but I am prioritizing what God has called me to do (be a good wife and mother), and this gift that I believe he wants me to share follows that calling. When I get to sit down and write, it feels like overflow. When I don’t, I am beginning to accept that this is not a “failure.”

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I really enjoyed both concerts I went to, but something from the Rob Thomas concert really stuck with me. He reminded the audience of how magical a moment can be if you just focus on being present. He gave an example of having to walk his dog after one of his Matchbox 20 shows, and how he felt annoyed by it. All he wanted to do after his show, the “rockstar that he is” (he said jokingly), was lay down on the couch to decompress. His dog has been waiting all day, overjoyed to see him. As he begrudgingly took him out and saw the joy on his face, he realized the importance of living in the now. He reminded us that whether you are walking the dog, working your 9-5, or at a concert on a Wednesday night to remain present. If we don't, we miss out on life's best moments.

“Our lives are made
In these small hours
These little wonders
These twists and turns of fate
Time falls away
But these small hours
These small hours
Still remain”

—Rob Thomas, Little Wonders

For me, whether I am parenting, schooling, with friends or family, presence is a real calling. Just like with writing, or even in motherhood, I can easily miss the beauty of the moment if I’m focused on what is coming later.

Maybe this week, we can both ask: what is right in front of me that God is asking me to notice and be present to? To be fully present to the moment, I believe, is to touch the divine. May we both find God there this week.

Prayers that you are doing well and have a beautiful week!