Nothing is Ordinary!

Day 19:  Sunday, April 10, 2016

Yesterday’s rain here in California did not last long and I was able to pull some weeds, trim some plants, and put down some mulch in my mother-in-law’s yard.  It took me all day, but so it goes these days!  Today I have just one or two chores left to do before we get back on the road again tomorrow.

Ethan’s pinewood derby race was held yesterday in Flagstaff and the car he and his dad built did well.   Years ago I helped my sons make their first pinewood derby cars.  You will remember that I helped shape Ethan’s car last weekend in Flagstaff—but Luke and Ethan did all the rest of the creative work.  The completed car is certainly a “winner!”  

We think of pulling weeds, trimming plants, putting down mulch, and a grandson’s first pinewood derby car as just “normal” or “ordinary.”  But this is not true.  All of these things are “extraordinary!”  To feel the earth between one’s fingers, to catch the pungent smell of geraniums, to note how weeds create deep roots, and to share in the making of a pinewood derby car with one’s son and grandson are all “extras” in life.  In fact, there is nothing in our living that is ordinary!  Everything we do, from waking up in the morning to going to bed at night, are all extras!  There was a time when we could not do these things—and there will come a time again when we will not be able to do these simple things!  Nothing we do can be called commonplace, ordinary, or normal.  Everything is an “extra” and to see life in this way can make a big difference in how we live it!