Just Write {62}

November 19, 2012

About a week ago, we were at a family gathering and I was talking to my brother and sister in law. They asked about the projects I’m working on and when they asked what I speak about when I go around speaking, I said it varies. I added that it’s sometimes about blogging, but mostly it’s about writing in general, or about how I see life…and my voice trailed off when I said that last part and I felt all weird because I can’t figure out how to describe what I mean about that without sounding ridiculous.

So I said, You know, like how everything is…so…magical. 

ahem.

Well. If that doesn’t sound kind of made up or trite or silly, I don’t know what does. But maybe the simplest happy thoughts are the best kind to have. I’m not good at simple happy thoughts, but my heart is? I think? My head prefers ruminating and navel gazing and my heart keeps pulling me back out of myself and into the magic of everything. You know, grace in small things, in all things.

Yesterday I cleaned the chicken coop and my Dad helped me fill the food bins with chicken feed and the cracked corn for their winter diet. We were working on all kinds of outdoor getting-ready-for-winter types of things and I loved it. I love the Indian summer temperatures this week and basking in what feels like one last breath of fresh air, every breath.

I held our friendliest chicken and called her little lady, and scratched at her neck like she’s a puppy.

Then this morning I went to let our three girls of fowl out of their night time perch and as they flapped past me, I reached in for eggs. Every single time I can’t get over how wild it is that every day a perfect oval with a hard shell and protein inside is made by one little body, and released.

Recently I  gathered the eggs from the straw nest and put them in my pockets so I could clean up the yard a little bit before going in. I forgot about the magic in my coat and ended up smashing two of them but I didn’t know it until I came inside and tried to put my hands in my pockets. I felt the gooey ooze and pulled my hands free to see yolk and the clear slipperiness of what could have been whites if they had made it to a pan. This was a little sad (and annoying, to have so much goo in my pockets).

I got over it quickly though, because that’s one of the best things about trying to keep your eyes open to all the magical graces. You can break a thousand magic eggs and turn around only to be confronted with more magic.

We breathe in rare things like a few days of Indian summer before winter sets in, so earnestly. It’s not as easy to keep seeing every mundane and repetitive thing as magic but they’re really just as life-giving.

Sometimes the only way we remember that is when we break something.

:::::

This is the 62nd installment of Just Write, an exercise in free writing your ordinary and extraordinary moments. {Please see the details here.} I would love to read your freely written words so join me and link up below. You can add the url of your post at any time. Just be sure it’s a link to your Just Write post, not to your main page, and please don’t link to posts that are not written in the spirit of capturing moments–like lists or sponsored posts. Then please link back to this post in your post so people know where to go if they’d like to join in. (Any links not following those two guidelines will be deleted.)

Also. Please take a moment to visit someone else who has linked up! It’s a really good way to meet new writers and get inspired by the meaning behind their moments. Word? Thank you!



{ 13 comments }

tracy@sellabitmum November 19, 2012 at 9:38 pm

Beautifully said. And seriously, like 65 this Thursday!!
tracy@sellabitmum recently posted..Do People Still Buy Hostess Ding Dongs?

Gianna November 19, 2012 at 10:36 pm

Man! What a wonderful way to make beautiful something that is not.
Gianna recently posted..What Am I Going to Do?

Adrienne November 19, 2012 at 10:56 pm

I know I’m getting close a God-given heart place when my thoughts start to sound like a 1950’s movie….this is lovely, and I pray to see the magic…to feel it and participate in it. I thought it would get harder as I got older…but it’s actually getting easier!! Thanks for hosting!
Adrienne recently posted..A Girl Can Dream

Varda (SquashedMom) November 19, 2012 at 11:59 pm

Another beautiful gem of a post. I love so much how it ends… ” It’s not as easy to keep seeing every mundane and repetitive thing as magic but they’re really just as life-giving. Sometimes the only way we remember that is when we break something.”

Thank you for that.
Varda (SquashedMom) recently posted..Making you laugh today

rebecca @ altared spaces November 30, 2012 at 7:43 am

This was my favorite line as well.

I’ve been thinking a lot about breaking things. I don’t want to live carefully. I want to live Big. Big living means the gorgeous wine goblet gets smashed. So we make a stepping stone with the pieces. And call it good in the garden.

That feels like grace.
rebecca @ altared spaces recently posted..clients bring clarity to my life…huge gratitude

Kerstin November 20, 2012 at 12:25 am

I have been reading your JustWrite for a long time and I think it’s always magical.
I finally found my own flow in writing today to join in ;)
Kerstin recently posted..Fading

Ami November 20, 2012 at 9:14 am

I love this. (And I totally need to get some chicken magic of my own.)
Ami recently posted..There is no escape from Harry Potter

the grumbles November 20, 2012 at 10:32 am

I love you, just so you know.

gretchen from lifenut November 20, 2012 at 11:15 am

Eggs in a pocket, smashed. I can feel them in my hands and my coat, thanks to your writing.
gretchen from lifenut recently posted..He likes you

Kat November 20, 2012 at 1:12 pm

Well, if that is silly and trite, then I want to be silly and trite. Life is magical. All the little things that most people miss is what makes it so magical. And your kids are so lucky to have a mom that feels that.

Fabulous post. :)
Kat recently posted..Morning

Michelle November 20, 2012 at 2:56 pm

Very nicely written!

Krishann November 20, 2012 at 4:11 pm

“My heart keeps pulling me back.” Yes. I know exactly what you mean and after a night where I struggled to find my grace in the small things it was so fitting and so necessary that I read those words. Thank you.
Krishann recently posted..10 More Years

Julia November 20, 2012 at 5:36 pm

LOVE your last line. Truly.
Julia recently posted..Dreams of These

Comments on this entry are closed.

{ 3 trackbacks }

Previous post:

Next post: