Friday, October 8, 2010

Change is Good

I still live in the town where I was born... in a neighborhood that hasn't seen much change since my dad's high school days (1938-42). All my furniture came from my grandmother, and I am the family archives' official curator. There is a great amount of stability in keeping life the same. When I sit on a chair, open a drawer, or eat from my silver spoon, I feel the continuity of my lineage.

I try not to be boring. I re-arrange my furniture with great regularity. Moving things around makes me think I am getting something new. I have had fun pulling dressers out of bedrooms and plopping them unexpectedly in the middle of the house. My grandmother would think this placement would not be proper... it makes me feel like the rebel I am not.

I am known for painting everything. I paint the walls, the floors, the kitchen countertops, and the furniture. A while back, I painted a Victorian couch... defiantly under Grandmother Worthington's nose and all-seeing eyes, her crackled painted mouth smirked unapprovingly. I can report the universe didn't explode and, now, I actually enjoy the piece.


Do you think I look like Grandmother Worthington... minus the cracked mouth?


Still... I have always had trouble turning life's page into autumn. Fall is a season which comes just before "death". This time of the year makes me very reflective. Spring is a celebration of newness, but autumn is a final burst of harvest and color before colorless winter calls us to the quiet withdrawal and the darkness of shortening days. I've done this season-thing for 50 plus years now, so I know what is ahead... change.

Guess what? The leaves are going to fall, whether I like it or not. Change is coming. Will I embrace it and change myself to meet its challenges... or will I wear flip flops in winter and look like a fool? I do have a choice.

My 5 month old puppy is getting big!


Change.


Yesterday I decided to embrace autumn by walking down my favorite neighborhood path.


Change of Season.


Then, I stopped to enjoy the tranquil sounds of birds and think a bit about how I can embrace change, not deny it.


Change of Attitude.

There are changes everywhere. Season. Season of life. Our country. The world. I know I am not the only one feeling it.

I have to confess: I have read the end of the book.

I know what will be, and I find comfort in my knowledge.

"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me... I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end,"

At the very same time, I am in hearty agreement with Martin Luther when he said, " If I knew Jesus was coming back tomorrow, I would plant a tree today."

6 comments:

  1. I know that quote from Martin Luther == thank you for reminding me. I think you and I are about the same age, from what I can gather. I love the fact you are able to look at your life in a big picture. I really try to do that every day. You never know when the end will come. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. I made my day. :)

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  2. So lovely and true. You sound like such an interesting person! Wish you lived closer, we could get into some real trouble having fun while life is changing.

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  3. Nice piece. Calm and reflective.

    Autumn has always been my favorite season, even though it's also the season when I've ad to say a final goodbye to many loved ones. But it's also the season that promises a relief from oppression -- from the oppressive heat, from the oppressive sun -- toward a well-deservfed respite.

    And that's change I can believe in.

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  4. I LOVE change ... and autumn ... and your beautiful spirit!

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  5. I agree with Moogie. A sense of calm came over me reading this. Which I love, because I tend to get scatterbrained easily. I have a love/hate relationship with Winter. I resent that what I love needs to die, but I appreciate a clean slate and the coming re-birth of nature's babies. I garden a lot nowadays, for the first time in my life. I really think of my veggie plants and herbs as my kids...don't send me to the loony bin for this, I guess I get it from my mother. I swear she spoke more lovingly to her Basil plant than she did to me when I was a moody teenager. ; )
    The best part of winter is all the celebrating and reunions. Takes the edge off and warms the chill in the winter air. Speaking of which, I vote a kinley-brown reunion very soon!

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  6. Wow, that is amazing you have a painting of your grandmother - and it's beautiful too! What a treasure!

    You may not like change (I have been reflective myself) but you are an eternal optimist and you always end up working things out and knowing that everything will be okay. And you are very inspiring in that way! Thank you for sharing your thoughts, and photos, and Bible verse. Such a blessing to know the ending :)

    xoxoxo

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