The Key

I was reading Brambly Hedge to the boys this evening, and we came to the part where they found a mysterious key.

I paused the story to share an Unglamorous Observation,  perhaps a bit tainted by adult skepticism: "In real life, when you find a random key, you rarely find the right keyhole; in fact, the door may not even exist anymore. But in stories, whenever they mention a key, a door always appears."

Sure enough,  the very next page revealed the door. Of course, the key was a perfect fit. 

"Just like in the stories!" said a small voice beside me.

Are adults destined to be Boring, Stale, and Mad About Life?

I had one of those startle moments recently, when I realized that I was almost 20 when Caitlin Clark was born.

I don't usually talk sports, because two sentences in, it becomes obvious I have No Clue what I'm talking about. 

However,  Caitlin Clark became famous while attending the University about 15 minutes from my house, and I know people who have talked to her,  so I started paying attention.  I watched to see who she is and how she plays, and how her teammates reportedly love her- because she's that kind of a person.

I admire Caitlin's enthusiasm about life, her strength,  and her stamina. Her ability to fight well, yet speak highly of the team who defeated them is noteworthy.

I look at her amazing smile, and silently pray that her smile survives- that nothing and nobody is brutal enough to destroy that beautiful smile.

I hope that Adult Life doesn't crush her.  

.....

When I was entering adulthood,  I fought it with my whole being. 

I even wrote a paper about all the reasons I didn't want to graduate into adulthood. I don't remember what words I used, but the idea was that most adults are Boring, Stale, and/or Mad About Life.

A couple decades later, and I think, to the current pre-adults around me, I probably seem just about as Boring,  Stale, and Mad About Life as any adult ever was.

Truth is, I'm tired. Exhausted.  Stale.

I want to sleep and do Really Boring Things, because there's this whole buzz of constant excitement around me all the time. I crave quiet. I read posts from The Dull Men's Club, for fun. A Boring Day is a Good Day- that's my motto!! How utterly boring. 

I try really hard not to (because, amidst all the things I can NOT control, I have to practice what I teach my kids: "Your response is YOUR responsibility!"), but some days, I DO feel really Mad About Life.  Grief has slashed my heart to pieces, and some days, I find myself still struggling to pick up the pieces. Navigating subtle OR obvious special needs of children has kept me awake more nights than you know. I feel so much more fear than I did as a child,  even though my trust has deepened. I feel a lot of emotions about the actions of people who may or may not have a direct effect on my life.  I have to consciously "clean my glasses" so I can see life around me outside the filter of my own experiences. 

I TRY not to let all this stuff make me grumpy, but I am quite certain that, to my former self, I would hit the "Mad About Life" list. On some days, anyway.

Here's my Challenge of the Day-

To the pre-adults: Hug an adult today- they probably need it. 

To the adults: Smile occasionally,  sleep when you can, and remember to clean your glasses.

To all: Be cheerleaders, across the span of age.

.....

One more outstanding thing about Caitlin Clark: 

After being selected as #1 pick for the WNBA, she was asked about her goals. Instead of focusing on the competition and The Win, her answer focused on continuing to enjoy the game, as she moves forward. 

I want to enjoy each step of my journey,  too.

Current and Recent Mental Distractions:

I had a goal to write 100 words a day, and post them many of those days.  I got distracted by the details of life. 

I have thousands of words galloping through my brain, but whether I can bridle them into sentences and harness them to a carriage where they can transport meaningful thoughts to the reader is the question at hand.

If you're game for a wild ride, saddle up your horses and try to keep pace. I'll lead you on a wild ride through Thought City. We'll turn the Distractions into Attractions, and pause briefly to examine the bits of Real Life that temporarily made me forget about writing things I'm okay with sharing right here, right now.

Current and Recent Mental Distractions: 

1. A trip to my Mom's, as a Mom of 4

2. Tax prep

3. Easter Bible Walk

4. School teaching, and planning next year's curriculum 

5. Deviated septums 

6. Stress fractures

7. Cryptic tonsils

8. Steak sales 

9. Dutch Blitz

10. A dream about a cougar in the house and a handgun I couldn't figure out how to use

11. Statutes of limitations 

12. Mothers with heartbreak caused by their child's sin, departure, or death

13. Children with heartbreak caused by their parents’ sin, broken relationships,  or death

14. Wordle

15. Has anyone ever done a rhinoscope on a rhinoceros?

16. Snow in April, and concerned robins

17. Meat sales

18. Water in basement 

19. Enmeshed family systems 

20. Estranged family systems

21. Strange family systems 

22. Wiggly children 

23. Pantry purge

24. Bible Study

25. Jesus’ power over sin

26. Daffodils 

27. Even darkness is light to God

28. Books to write

29. How imperfect parents can raise emotionally healthy,  functional children who love Jesus and love people 

30. How many things to list before I call the list Long Enough

31. This font is called "Architect's Daughter." I think that's perfect, considering I am the daughter of the most creative, wise "Architect" in the history of the universe- its Creator!

Pictured: a couple snapshots from our church's Easter Walk on Good Friday