The Zone

For your consideration…..

I was given old memories to use for today’s message. I’m thinking a lot  of you will not have experienced this.

A looooong time ago, before there were; permanent press clothes, easy to care for fabrics, very few homes had clothes dryers and there was no such thing as a steam iron,  it was much more difficult to look good and spiffy. I should add that it was a time when looking good and spiffy was required in many cases including school.

So how did people manage? Most people dried their clothes on an outdoor clothesline. We lived close to the grade school and I would beg Mom not to hang my bras and underwear where people could see them. “Hang them on the inside line and sheets on the outside line.” I would suggest. The reality was, she hung the clothes out as it was convenient which was as the loads came out of the washer.

Once the clothes were dried they were brought in for folding. Clothes that could be just folded and put away like socks, sheets, towels etc. were dealt with first. Then what needed to be “ironed” was laid out one at a time on the kitchen table and “sprinkled” with a laundry sprinkler (which was usually homemade) like the one above. The clothes would be “sprinkled,”  then folded and “rolled” (much as  you do in packing a suitcase). When everything was “sprinkled” it was put into a plastic bag and put in the refrigerator to be ironed later. When it was pulled out to be ironed it would be damp and the wrinkles could more easily be ironed out. Children were taught how to iron by first ironing handkerchiefs of which there were many or if the Dad was blessed, his boxer shorts were ironed. Those were also good ironing experience.

As you can surmise, laundry took some planning. So most often there was a “laundry” day and “ironing” day. In our house we also had a “cleaning” day which was Friday. That would be the day all the furniture was pulled out and vacuumed behind, window sills wiped etc.

Why this memory for today’s message? Often these planned chores were a habit and monotonous. The same thing at the same time on the same day became automatic. You could find yourself in “the zone.”

Everyday, here and elsewhere, we are asked to meditate and/or pray. We are asked to go into a quiet space and just “be.” Consistency is an extremely valuable tool in helping us to set up a pattern of getting to this “just being” space. Consistancy helps us establish an open line of communication. It is just like my Sister saying I will call you on my way home from work on Fridays. Or some people call their parents on a certain day of the week. It is a commitment of sorts. A time that can usually be counted on.

Why this story today? Why this example? Meditation/praying does not always take place in a quiet room or in church. No, it is often in those times we get in “the zone” while we are running, gardening, walking, swimming laps or like in days of old the chores of laundry, hanging laundry up, taking it down and folding, sprinkling and ironing.

There are many different ways to get silent, go within and ultimately establish our communication with our Guidance. What works for each of us is what, where and when we feel the most comfortable and at peace…..the place we can let go and just “be.”

That is the HOPE. And so it is.

Bit by bit, piece by piece, HOPE by HOPE action steps anyone can take…..

-Meditate/pray…ask…”What is my next step for my highest good and the highest good of all?”

-Get outdoors and take in at least 10 deep breaths.

-Drink lots of water.

-Find your place to consistently just “be.”

What made me smile yesterday….
-Talking with Jackie….for 5 hours. I have to laugh. We always start off with “What’s new.” “Nothing much.” Clearly that is not true.

-A beautiful day.

-An email from Alex. Can you imagine 5000 sailors all asking, “Are we there yet?” or “How much longer?” After almost 10 months, everyone has to be antsy.

-Date night at the Michigan Theater. Bruce and I saw Roger McGuinn. It was great.

Love, Blessings and Gratitude,

Rev. Chris

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