Simple Things
I’ve been home for more than a week now, which only happens about once every 3 years. I’m talking about being physically present in my own home, sleeping in my own bed, and spending quality time with my family (ok – I realize the “quality time” assessment varies across each family member). As I think back over the last 30 months, when I leave on my next business trip in the next couple of days (assuming that I do indeed get excused from jury duty), this may be the single longest consecutive day period that I’ve been physically at my house to sleep in my bed (Denise will argue it’s her bed since she’s in it most of the time and I’m not) in that entire period.
As I’ve adjusted myself to being at home for more than a week again, I’ve come to really appreciate the simple things that I don’t often do or don’t often notice when I swing through for a couple days – make the bed in the morning; smell the aroma of our “back home” Community coffee brewing; sit on the front porch and watch the morning commuters heading off to work; go on a long walk with Denise; enjoy the snow in the morning and the sunshine in the afternoon; wave good bye to the son as he heads off to school; take the youngest to the bus stop; meet good friends at Starbucks and catch up; spend an evening at dinner with friends to wine and whine. It’s been months since I took the time to visit at dinner with friends. It’s been years since Denise and I have had two weeks at home together to exercise and to talk.Â
When you get back to the simple things and think about what these simple things mean in your life, you regain an appreciation for the things that matter most in life – time with the family; time with very good friends; time admiring God’s creation and praying intensely for His path to be known in your life; time in reflection, which always makes you better at work and at home; time in discussion, without the burdens of travel or the constant chaos of packing and unpacking.Â
I’m very much enjoying the simple things right now.Â