Monday, March 23, 2015

Potent Memories

Timeless

'I am as God created me.' In this one thought is all the past undone; the present saved to quietly extend into a timeless eternity.”
A Course in Miracles

If you could see me now, you would greatly doubt the veracity of this claim. I have been sick for about a week; my hair is straggly, my nose red from all the blowing, and I have a man-voice. There's an ace bandage wrapped tightly around my ribs because every single muscle that holds them together is strained to the breaking point. In short, I'm a sad looking mess. But, I'm getting better. I don't think it will be long before God can claim me again.

We humans divide experiences into good and bad, looks into pleasing or not—we're very good at categorizing almost everything into positive or negative. It's bad that I've been sick, for instance, and will be good to feel better. However, while I've been on mandatory house arrest for fear of infecting the rest of humanity with this ghastly bug, I've done a lot of thinking and remembering. My grandmother has been on my mind so much, I rummaged through the larder yesterday and cooked up some chicken and dumplings. I never make that particular dish, in fact, probably haven't even attempted it in well over thirty years. But yesterday it seemed absolutely necessary.

I communicated on Facebook with my cousin, Anne, and she responded with her sweet memories of going to Mama's house in Jefferson City. Pot roast cooking on the stove, the Mimosa trees in full bloom, a patch of mint by the outside faucet and the iced tea Mama made from it, sunflowers growing taller than a man. Beautiful scents, and sights, and quiet joys that one woman brought into our childhood lives—just as potent today as they were then.

Time is a human construct. This is a “God-thing” and is therefore timeless. Those who have gone before us can still reach into our minds and give us helpful advice. Mama knew chicken and dumplings would be just what the doctor ordered, and it was.

                                                        In the Spirit,

                                                              Jane

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