WINDOW WASHING

A friend and I shared a moment on social media after she made a post about “being still.” I asked her, “where is your quiet space?” She replied, “screened in porch. Yours?” My quiet space is the upstairs bonus room, affectionately dubbed “the she shed” in our home. Specifically, it is the right side of an orange loveseat with a matching hassock facing a single southeast window. Just over my shoulder is a single bulb floor lamp and in front of the lamp, a square wicker basket. It is my sanctuary inside of my home-sanctuary.

From this perch, while looking through the window, I ponder work and life. When I want to meditate in the more traditional fashion, I will move from the loveseat to the floor and closer to the window, as I did on the morning after the interchange with my friend. As I struggled to find a comfortable crossed leg position and center my thoughts, I was shocked by the dust and grime that had accumulated on my window. Granted I could not remember the last time it had been washed, I was nonetheless, shocked. I had only looked out, raised and lowered it for my comfort and pleasure- how could it be so dirty?

After my silent time, I at once washed the window and have regularly washed it since.

Unintentionally, the faithful service I receive from so many other sources is often taken for granted. I had not, intentionally, NOT washed the window. I don’t like washing windows but like dirty windows even less. The window had been serving me just fine until I got up close and personal. My view had been distorted by distance from the loveseat. The light shining through the glass became brighter and the view outside became clearer and less fuzzy after the washing.

When we start taking faithful, familiar things and people for granted, it is easy for our view of them and their potential to enhance our lives to become distorted and fuzzy. When we assume that our spouse or friend is always going to do a certain thing or act a certain way, we may be walking the path of taking them for granted. A quick litmus test is our saying, “you always___.” Check your window into the other by asking, “do you mind or would you please_____? Or saying, “thank for always cooking our meals.” A little gratitude goes a long way for washing away the grime of “taken for granted.” Gratitude helps the giver and the receiver.

My quiet space taught me an unexpected lesson that day.

Luke 6:31

PONDER THIS THOUGHT----Treat others as you wish to be treated.