fiction

pondering the pithy

Posted on by Grace Day

My neighbors are traveling – again. They have recently returned from one adventure only to embark on yet another travel adventure. I must admit – I am positively green with envy. This brings to mind the rolling stone – you know the one – the one that gathers no moss, right? Well, in this scenario, my neighbors are the rolling stones and I am the opposite of a rolling stone. I am the stationary stone. This would explain my envious green hue. Unlike my friends, the rolling stones, I have gathered plenty of moss. I am, in fact, covered in thick, green moss.

Although, if truth be told, there are plenty of times and seasons in my life, where I too, am a rolling stone. It is during these times of “rolling” that I lose my accumulated moss in the process of being no longer still, but in perpetual motion.

Still, I have to ponder the deeper question here. Is the implication of this often quoted, pithy saying that moss is a good thing or a bad thing? If the implication is that moss is a good thing, a desirable thing, then a rolling stone by virtue of its constant movement, is missing out on acquiring this valuable asset of moss. Moss does provide a warm and comforting layer of protection and adornment for the stone. So moss can be considered something good. This is one interpretation.

Or – is moss considered a burden – extra, unnecessary weight that slows the stone’s roll? Is the moss making the stone more beautiful or hiding the stone’s bare beauty? All these queries are a part of my pithy ponder.

It appears to me that to this point in my life, I have more often played the part of the stationary stone rather than the rolling stone. (must be why I have acquired so much moss) Neighbors have come and gone, friends have moved here and there, while I have been at the same address for many years. And I have the “moss” to verify my lack of “rolling” – a basement and a garage and closets full of the “moss” that accumulates with the passage of time. Are these “mossy” things that fill my home treasure or trash? That is open to interpretation.

But, fun fact. Time does have a way of turning trash into treasure. Ordinary objects become valuable antiques, sought after by collectors, when enough time has passed to turn them into rare and historical treasures. Ironically, moss is a sign that the “stone” has put down roots (so to speak) by virtue of staying in one place, even though moss itself has no roots. (moss has something called rhizoids which enable it to attach to a variety of surfaces)

Moss is a beautiful, velvety soft covering – a vibrantly colored plant that lives on every continent. That’s right. Moss grows in Antarctica and in the desert. Very versatile. So why would a stone want to cease its rolling and gather some moss? Maybe for the comfort a covering of moss provides? Perhaps for the protection or for the adornment of mosses’ emerald hues? Or could it be that the stone desires the moss that grows and flourishes with the connections that are formed, the community that arises, only when the stone stops its rolling?

But it’s hard to stop “rolling” in today’s culture. We are busy and we value busyness. So I too often keep on rolling and then wonder why I have no moss – no protective, comforting, decorative cloak and cover to keep me company. (who knew moss is a good companion?) This must be why God’s word says –

“Be still; and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)

I don’t need to keep running – whether from something or in search of something. My Heavenly Father says I need only to be still. (and maybe gather some moss) He will meet me where I am. In fact, He says this –

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14)

And He says –

“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” (Isaiah 30:15)

I guess that’s right. I too often resist being still in favor of that fever pitch at which we all seem to be living life. I’m afraid to slow down and cease my incessant rolling. Why? I blame FOMO. (fear of missing out) It’s a malady of our current day culture. BUT – my Heavenly Father has something else in mind for me (and for you) –

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.” (Psalm 37:7)

“Do not fret”? Why? Because God’s got a better plan for me and for you too, dear readers. God gives us a wonderful invitation, if we dare to accept it and follow where He leads –

“He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.” (Psalm 23:2)

Doesn’t that sound inviting? A chance to stop rolling long enough to lie down and rest. I’m pretty sure there’s moss in those green pastures and moss on the stones beside those quiet waters. It is in this place of stillness that my Heavenly Father restores my soul, I receive much needed rest, and moss has a chance to grow a comforting, protective, decorative covering over my once rolling stony self.

This is an open invitation from my Heavenly Father, an invitation that I want to accept often. I never regret the time I spend in His green pastures, beside quiet waters, being still, being restored by the life-giving Presence of my Creator. I will “be still and know that He is God.” I will gladly cease my rolling and gather some moss until my Heavenly Father calls me to “roll” again, to follow Him to some new adventure.

sincerely, Grace Day

the gum giver

Posted on by Grace Day

No, that is not a job description, but it does describe a work colleague of mine. He is a substitute teacher at the large, inner city public high school where I also work as a sub. This can be a tough job, a thankless job, a position the students don’t take seriously but they do take advantage of those in this role. My colleague, however, has found a solution or at least a gimmick to enhance his standing with the students even though he’s only a substitute teacher like me. His idea? He is the giver of gum goodness.

That’s right. My colleague has discovered that giving out free chewing gum to the students is indeed a very good gimmick – a gimmick full of goodwill fueled by the goodness of gum! Who knew? It’s a simple gesture but it works wonders. I’ve seen it work. He stands in the halls during passing periods and hands out gum to anyone who asks. Even the most rude and rebellious of students will approach him politely, hand outstretched, and usually remember to say thank you at the conclusion of the gum transaction.

The teenage years are turbulent times by definition. Many students walk around angry, anxious, or on edge, just waiting for their next explosive encounter. Enter the gum giver. Instead of telling students they are in violation of dress code, to take off their hat or to get to class (that’s someone else’s job anyway, someone way above our pay grade) he offers them a choice of gum flavors – a small gift, an act of kindness and goodwill inserted into an often contentious environment.

This giving of gum changes things for the better – one stick of gum at a time – one positive interaction at a time – his gimmick of giving gum goodness reaps a harvest of goodwill. And goodwill is a scarce and valuable commodity among the teenage population, let me tell you. (maybe among the population in general now that I think about it) The gum giver is building bridges between himself and the students, slowly, steadily – each gesture of kindness, each stick of gum, another piece of the bridge he is building every day. (although I’m sure some days the chasm seems too wide to be bridged by mere sticks of gum, no matter how many he gives away)

This is not something new for him. The gum giver has been doing this for years. Students seek him out during the school day – they go out of their way to find him. Of course, they are getting free gum, but they are also getting something more – a smile, a kind word – it’s possibly the most positive interaction of their day. I think my colleague is onto something wise and profound. Although, it’s also a good survival tactic. Teenagers can be formidable adversaries. I think the gum giver is smart to put into practice this strategy –

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” (Romans 12:20)

He is making a big difference with a seemingly small gesture – the giving of a single stick of gum. Living in a culture that is producing anxious, agitated, often angry individuals, what he does may seem insignificant and insufficient against such odds. BUT – we are told in Romans –

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)

In this case, the goodness of gum is the method and I think it is working. As I said previously, he has been doing this gum giveaway thing for some years, which brings to mind these words in Galatians –

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Galatians 6:9-10)

I wonder if the gum giver ever grows weary? Perhaps, BUT – I have never seen the gum giver give up. And he never runs out of gum either! That’s a minor miracle considering every school day he hands out hundreds of sticks of gum, one at a time, all day long. (many students are repeat receivers of his gift of gum goodness in the same day) I hope his consistent kindness and generosity are contagious. We could each take a page from the gum giver’s play book and practice some small form of “gum giving” every day.

Whether it’s the giving of a smile (there are those who find that too costly or too much trouble) or the giving of a kind word or a listening ear – I am inspired by the gum giver to try and make a difference for good in the lives of those I come in contact with every day. (maybe candy bars?) Whatever it is, dear readers, we each have our own unique contribution for good that only we can make to the world. So let’s do whatever it is, one step at a time, one day at a time, one stick of gum at a time.

And the world will be the better for it – “overcome evil with good.”

sincerely, Grace Day

fun fact – the gum giver is also the person in the post – “moment of glory”