I have a very predictable routine. You could even say it’s quite boring. I get up at the same time every morning. I hit snooze the same number of times. Two back-up alarms go off. I get up, brush my teeth, shower, and I won’t bore you with the rest of the details, but it’s the same every single day.
I take the same roads, drive in the same lane, and always hit 15 Mile and John R at 6:06 a.m. I park in the same garage, on the same floor, in the same spot each shift, and I look at the time clock on the way in and get a chuckle. It’s always 6:18 a.m.
My lunch goes in the fridge, I head to my locker, change my shoes, put my badge on and my necessities in my pockets, and head to the kitchen. I make a pot of coffee and have a conversation with Sherry or Denise from dietary. We talk about our family life, our children, our schedules, and wish each other a nice day. I check my assignment, head to the desk, get teased by everyone for always being so early, get a piece of paper and the assignment sheet, and head to the break room after getting that fresh cup of coffee that’s just finished brewing. It must be an age thing, because usually the other two in “my generation” are usually already in there.
My ride home is no different. I take the same route in reverse. And I always call Mum for half my ride, and Edna for the other half.
But tonight was different. Tonight, not only did I take a different ride home, but I called my friend Carrie after my first two calls. I didn’t stop thinking of her all day.
There’s a saying about walking a mile in someone else’s shoes. Well, today I may not have walked a mile in her shoes, but I felt as though I had walked at least around the block once in them. I couldn’t wait to take them off. She can’t. She can’t ever take those shoes off.
I am still convinced that sometimes God gives us little glimpses into the things that people feel, just so that we can love them better. Maybe because He wants to grow a closer bond of friendship. Maybe simply because He wants us to care about the stuff that really matters, and let go of the childish, petty, nonsense in our lives.
My GOD, we (I) waste an awful lot of time, thought, and energy pondering things that don’t mean a hill of beans!
Hill of beans – I’ve always wondered where that saying comes from! (Squirrel!)
I’ve had my share of yucky stuff happen in my life – heartaches and losses I wouldn’t wish upon anyone, and some just plain old consequences of my own stupidity. None of it I would ever want to re-live – but certainly not anything I’d choose to change either. It’s been the yucky stuff that’s given me the clearest vision.
Do you know what happens when your vision gets clearer and clearer? You only see the stuff that matters. All the rest is just a big fat blur, and the clearest thing in sight is the finish line. And the more you focus on the finish line, the less life’s meaningless nonsense even matters.
Lucky me. I get to run the race with the sweetest of friends.
Can you imagine the faces cheering us on?
Keep running, Carrie. Keep running.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3
And just for fun –
Definition of hill of beans by Merriam-Webster: something of negligible importance or value.
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