Have you ever stopped to think that part of our life mantra is kind of like living out the three bears story through Goldilocks perspective? Although, I maybe need to alter the goldie of locks part to one of brown/graydilocks as more apropos for moi. Anyway, I have been caught up lately in the brrrring of the January cold snap that has held us captive for the past week or so here on the island. And despite the shiver me timbers of the chilly days, it has been glorious in Mother Nature’s delivery. Take yesterday for example. I came outside, walked down the steps from church, and got caught up in a smile of goodness. I can’t pin point what exactly but I felt just right.
I mean the day was really glorious. Maybe it was the uplifting homily just delivered by Father Jay? Well done pastor. Maybe it was a full tank of gas and ready to drive kind of feeling (gas prices are too much mind you)? Maybe it was the sun glistening upon the snow laden fields on either side of the road as I drove back along my favourite route 101? And then seeing the blue of the sky meeting the blue of the sea; combined with the crisp clear day bright and cheery. It felt just right. Aaahh. In that moment, I felt truly present and a bit giddy.
Yet, if one knows the story of Goldilocks, she goes into a home set off in the woods which happens to be owned by the three bears unbeknownst to her. Then helping herself to whatever grabs her fancy, she freely tests out the lay of the ‘too much, too little and just right’ land to her needs, and then end up falling asleep on one of the beds. First of all, is she CRAZY? Second of all….WHAT IN ALL THAT IS HOLY IS SHE DOING? Did her parents not sit her down and teach her about stranger danger or about going into an unknown building?!? Never mind the plethora of illegal actions she has engaged in!! Breaking and entering!! Stealing!! Home Invasion!!The Ten Commandments…well I just go out of church for goodness sake. I could go on.
Yes, I am probably thinking way too literally about the happenings in this particular fairy tale. Thank goodness I am thinking most adults, outside of educators and parents of young ones. do not necessarily read fairy tales as their preferred reading entertainment. However, I do believe in general that a kernel of intent underlies in each tale told. At least that is my own way of thinking especially now I have two younger grandchildren at the age of asking the why questions and I have to come up with explanations that meet their expectations. Haha. And in that, I find myself pondering.
Living out the goldilock mantra of ‘too little, too much, or just right’ with emphasis on the first two seems to be sitting with me. Yeah? Do we not in our day in some facsimile thereof, grumble or make a fuss about things on a regular basis? It could be as simple as starting off by saying, “I wish…” “I want…” “It better be….”, “I need…”, “I’ll do anything, if it or he/she would…” or “If only….”. In other words, when is the life we live going to be just right? Today. Now. Right now. It’s all good.
So I chuckle to myself because I think about being a goldilocks. January has tended to be unnaturally mild, forcing me to park my truck up at the top of my clay lane as the snow melted so much to make my lane yucky to drive on. Deep ruts and such. I wanted it to be colder and I got my wish.Yep. Brrrr. Now its a bit hard on our morning walk with Maggie. Hmmmm. Of course, the wind might possibly come in too which in turn blows the snow on parts of my lane making it difficult to drive through with my four wheel drive. Not enough for the snowplow guy to come for the whole lane mind you. Grrr. And so it continues.
So Goldilocks, you set the stage of finding your just right after a bit of assessing the situation and finally you were able to rest. And so must I. But I think I’ll do it by right just to get just right just so you know. Blessings.
Let us pray for those whom are in need of our prayers and to find gratefulness in our life lived. Amen
Karenpondering 