Post from July 5, 2023

“👟 RSD 1163 ✅ Today’s Verse: “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” — Hebrews 13:16

Message translation: “Make sure you don’t take things for granted and go slack in working for the common good; share what you have with others. God takes particular pleasure in acts of worship—a different kind of “sacrifice”—that take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets.”

Do you ever get tired of doing stuff? I mean, even stuff that you know needs to be done but you’re just kind of “ehh”? You know, one of your kids always has to be somewhere (and they can’t drive at 14, although sometimes you wish they could), or you have a dishes/trash agreement with your spouse…only you’re tired of doing dishes…but you don’t want to do all the trash either…you’re secretly kind of hoping your spouse suddenly decides they think clearing all the yard/house trash is fun and yippie! so are the dishes? Or, sometimes you get tired of answering questions at your job, even though you’re glad they ask (it really does make you happy that they’re interested) and you want them to keep asking so they’ll learn (because they’re 17 and don’t fall out of bed suddenly knowing Calculus)? It’s not that you’re tired of doing any of this “stuff” because of the “stuff” that it is (because it’s valuable “stuff”…as in it has value and you also see the value in it), you’re just tired of how much energy “the stuff” takes, you know? It’s not the “stuff,” it’s the energy. You’re just…tired. I know you’re not supposed to say “stuff” in speeches or writing, but Shakespeare used it in “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar,” so I’m calling it even. What about when extra stuff comes up in addition to your regular stuff? They need an extra volunteer for something at your child’s school. The bake sale at church needs that awesome dump cake you make (and you’ve already forgotten about it since someone asked you three weeks ago because you’re always running around doing all the things). A close friend or family member came down with the flu, and now they need you to help with errands, etc. Sometimes we become too busy in our lives to do anything else.

I’m guilty of this. Background: I’m a 7 gallon blood donor; I’ve been giving blood since I was 18, and I’ll be 35 next week. I’m blessed with good health, not scared of needles, and have good veins, so this is something that I’ve felt that was put on my heart to do. Everybody has their “extra stuff” they feel called to do (not like a big deal, but small, everyday things you can do to help your community)—you know, like how some people are great cooks and turn up with a homemade something for work events/church events/meal trains, etc.—that’s their thing they do. Well, donating blood is the thing I do, except I haven’t been keeping up with blood donations very well lately. I am not always able to do it as soon as I’m eligible again, but since I became eligible in March, I’ve had the opportunity presented and just haven’t taken it. It’s like I pass one of those busses and…keep driving. And, I totally could’ve stopped. It’s like I don’t have the time, but, more accurately, I don’t take the time. It’ll be that I have a lot to do that day (in the past, I have literally given blood then gone to dance…one day I taught (and demonstrated) tour jetés after donating a set of double reds—so, giving blood doesn’t put a damper on my day). Even if I’m busy that day, giving blood doesn’t take long. It really doesn’t. You might be thinking, “So, what’s the big deal?” Well, it’s put on my heart as a small way I can help in my community (e.g. some people join the Junior League or volunteer in other ways…this is my way). Some people can’t give blood for various reasons, but I can, and I should share my good fortune with others (today’s verse). It’s something small, but it’s something that helps, and it’s something I can do. I’m never going to come rolling up to anywhere with a casserole (I’ll gladly pick up a Hot-N-Ready…how is this the second reference to Caesar in this reflection? But, everyone knows homemade food is better, healthier and tastier—it’s called comfort food for a reason). Some people feed people who can use the “pick me up;” some people donate blood; some people help repair things on people’s homes; some people aid in animal rescue services. We all have “extra stuff” we’re called to do. As Mother Teresa noted, “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.”

We all have regular “stuff” to do to help keep the Earth spinning on its axis (it wobbles a little, actually—symbolism, am I right?), and none of it seems like much when you say it aloud. You know, the everyday things that our homes and famiies and jobs need. Like, “Oh, I still have dishes to do.” And, you might feel badly for that, but I think the problem is that it’s never just dishes. Like, you probably did 482 things before looking a those dishes and wondering why you weren’t gifted with telekinesis via a chemical spill like Alex Mack (90s Nickelodeon, anyone?—a girl (she’s like 12) got a chemical spilled on her and developed telekinetic abilities…and teleporting…but as a puddle…and she can generate electricity—there, you’re caught up). There’s a Christmas episode of this show where Alex’s family find themselves in a similar predicament to the aforementioned staring at the dishes. Everyone’s busy in this episode leading up to Christmas Eve, plus there’s all the extras everybody in the family seems to have to do—you know, it’s just one of those weeks. The Christmas lights don’t work, and the house isn’t decorated, and her sister’s Christmas dress is ripped, and it’s late, and the house is a mess, and they’ll just have to try and make it work tomorrow—and, it’s Christmas Eve night. Everyone goes to bed tired and a little frustrated. Not fighting or anything, just frustrated. Alex comes downstairs after everyone goes to bed, and Alex sews her sister’s dress by hand while cleaning and decorating the house (the telekinetic thing), and she uses the electricity thing to fix the lights. Alex did what she could (with the help of her powers) to lighten a load for her family. Lightening a load for someone (and looking at how we carry our own so we don’t miss opportunities for good) is what today’s verse calls us to do. In the show, it’s not that the “stuff” like the sister’s dress or making the house ready to welcome company wasn’t important to anyone else: it’s that they were just too overwhelmed with all the little things they had to do throughout the episode, so it seemed like every little thing was too much. Too much stuff to do. Like the dishes in your sink. Like pulling into a parking lot to give blood. One’s an everyday thing, and one is extra, but it somehow all gets mixed up when we get so busy.

We all have everyday things we avoid because it’s another thing to do. Eventually, we are also tasked with non-everyday things to do because somebody needs help with something or something needs to be done. The extra opportunities we have to do good, that we sometimes don’t take because we still have the other things—where we don’t do the good we know we should because we get run down or maybe it’s out of our comfort zone. Neither is a bad reason: it’s human. We get tired. We feel awkward or uncomfortable. But, if we’re supposed to “not forget to do good,”—how do we reconcile that with our human shortcomings? What happens when there’s too much stuff to do? I think the key is to keep trying to do the good we can. On RSD 1150, we talked about the difference between remembering and not forgetting. You can remember something, then forget, then hopefully remember again. But, to not forget means, well, not forgetting…like, you don’t have to try to remember because you don’t forget it in the first place. Today’s verse wants us to keep goodwill in mind, to “not forget to do good and to share with others.”

Yesterday, we talked about sharing in that we have something along with others. Share harmony. Share love. Share compassion. So, sharing with others could be as simple as reaching out to a friend via text that you’re thinking about them because maybe they’re stressed or just having a rough time. Sharing with others could be volunteering for a duty because you know your coworker’s going to be stuck with it, and maybe they could really use the break. Sharing with others could be paying for the person behind you at Starbucks because sometimes people just need an unexpected treat. Doing good, to “make a helpful contribution to a situation” (Google/Oxford) means seeing opportunities to remind ourselves that intangible things are invaluable. Holding the door open for someone. Letting someone in traffic. Giving that extra dollar you found stuck to the floor mat of your car to a homeless guy. Picking up the blanket that toddler dropped during Mass and rushing through the crowd to return it to them because, if Blankie comes to Mass, Blankie probably goes everywhere. Sitting next to a friend while they cry and knowing when to go in for that hug, knowing if they want sympathy, encouragement, and/or help with solutions. This random list has a common thread: it’s really the same act over and over, the act of seeing people, really seeing them. Even the acts that don’t directly involve people (e.g. watering your neighbor’s plants on the fly or picking up trash in places that aren’t your house) is seeing people because you know someone’s going to have to do it eventually. And, in the middle of a busy day, how awesome is it when something on your list is suddenly just done?

Being tired is totally normal and nothing to feel badly about. I mean, everything is so busy all the time; the economy stinks; the news is always trying to do the most; plus, it’s just hot outside. Like, this HEAT, you know? So, you might be going, “Well, I’m supposed to be doing all the good things.” Well, that’s not quite how I read it. Don’t forget about doing good. Don’t “go slack in working for the common good.” Slack, “having or showing laziness or negligence” (Google/Oxford). I think that’s what we’re meant to avoid: forgetting to care. Maybe we should take a step back from the busyness of life from time to time to make sure what we’re spending time on makes time available for doing our best. We should try not to become too busy to look up. Much easier said than done, but that’s the goal. It’s ok to be tired. God knows you’re tired. On RSD 1153, we talked about washing feet (acts of service). You’re not going to be able to wash everyone’s feet all the time, especially when you can barely muster the energy to wash your own. Washing feet should always be our goal, but it’s ok to ask for help with the towel and the water. Lean on God and the people He sent your way. Ask God for strength; let His angels (and the people He sent your way) help you out; get some rest; maybe do a little of the “stuff” at a time instead of trying to do “everything, everywhere, all at once” (I still haven’t seen that movie). And, don’t forget to wash feet when you can. Don’t forget not to be busy all the time.

Today’s photo is a video. We needed the rain, and I beat the storm to my car. 🥳”