I have a room in my home that I have turned into a cozy hideaway/writing room/office. Although it’s multi-functional, it’s painted and decorated in soft pastels with family pictures and framed memories. The room envelopes me with comfort and peace the second I open the door and fold myself into my writing chair. I don’t even mind doing the bills at my tiny desk and computer, because they’re tucked into a small alcove and surrounded by photos of people (and cats) whom I love. I had so much fun decorating it and anticipating what it would look and feel like when I could finally settle in. Even my mousepad is flowered and matches the décor! I actually call it my bomb shelter, because I feel protected and safe from all outside stress and “scary things” in life. The room was originally my youngest child’s room, and as each of my three children grew up and moved out, the remaining ones moved up to the bigger rooms. That small room became my first sewing room, then a guest room, then a depository for hiding Christmas presents and miscellaneous stuff that didn’t really belong anywhere; you know, the junk room. There are no poignant memories clinging to that room, so it makes me feel safe.
I was sitting in that comfy writing chair, and my cat decided to jump into my lap. Of course, she first had to make the spot suitable, to make it “her.” So she began to knead my legs and turn around and around to get comfortable. She was so earnest and determined to prepare her spot that she began to happily purr louder and louder as she went about her work. Once she was satisfied, she plopped down and went to sleep. She seemed as happy in her preparations as she was with the outcome.
Are we always happy with the entire process of working towards a goal? Do we consider it all joy, or just the finished product? Sometimes, the daunting preparations can make us quit before our dreams are realized. Perhaps we think the dream is not worth the struggle. The funny thing is, often the struggle produces an outcome that’s very different than the one we were originally working towards – and better. There is a scripture that says, “Rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope…” (Romans 5:3-5).
What?! Rejoice?! Seriously?? Yes, seriously. Although our original outcome might not be the one we originally wanted, we gain so many things in the process. Endurance, perseverance, character, hope – who does not want any of those things?
Anticipation is what keeps us trying again and again, but we can’t maintain that without developing endurance, persistence, and the most important one –hope. Although this may be a thin analogy, every time my cat scratched me in her preparations, I pushed her off my lap. That happened about four times, but she kept jumping right back on, continuing to purr throughout the entire process. She was enjoying herself even though her efforts were being foiled so many times. When she finally made it, she curled up and immediately went to sleep. Of course, the phone rang a few minutes later, scared her to death, and she jumped off and ran away (I said it was a very thin analogy). However, she continues to go through this very same ritual every day, undaunted.
Sometimes we end up with what we want, sometimes we don’t, but we always end up with what we really need. We can appreciate and accept the preparation, even if the struggle is so very far from joyful and even painful, because we will always have gained something when we come out on the other side. Then we will be ready to tackle our next dream chase, we will have learned more, and we may get what we were planning in addition to what we got before. Maybe we will even be able to purr with contentment as we prepare.
Dance on
Grace Notes 