Fables and Faith : It’s a bit like jogging in a cul-de-sac
Posted on Monday, August 25, 2008
Whoever said that moving is exciting obviously never had to move out of two houses into a third and then prepare for the "mother of all mothers"garage sale.
Forget perspiration - just think sweat. Forget calmness and coolness in the height of battle and think "bicker"about the small stuff - and it's all small stuff. It really is like jogging in a cul-de-sac, with lots of fruitless activity covering very small pieces of ground.
However, in the midst of all the commotion, I could still feel God's presence. Take Smokey for example: My feral cat has now been adopted by the nice young folks who have leased my house. Smokey won't have to endure a move taking her out of her woods. How that took place is a story in itself.
Having failed - as have many, many others - to sell my house in this market, I was advised by a friend to list it on Craig's List (the Internet listing service ). Since I had never heard of it, I thought I would first try it out by listing my Bass Tracker Boat. Lo and behold, it sold within five days. I then went back to Craig's list with the intention of listing my house, but my eye caught sight of a category called "home needed. "
Opening that category I was drawn to the ad that said," Home needed for young couple with two dogs and a cat. "Well, you know how much I love animals, so I decided to correspond with the person and said "I just might have the house you need. "Sure enough I received a reply and after some correspondence they decided to view the house and when they arrived they immediately commented on "Smokey the Cat. "Good move on their part.
Once I told them the story of how Smokey adopted me, they seemed intrigued. They were happy to know that I really did love animals. She said," Every time we looked at rental housing and then told the landlord about our animals, they just freaked. "Well, we talked about animals for a little while and I told them of my late "Grand dog Toast and my cat Adrienne"who both passed away last year and we all cried a bit together. To say the least, I was blessed to have found this young couple and I just know they will take good care of the house. Was all that a coincidence ? I don't think so. Thank you God.
The deal was made and that event triggered the next "crisis"which was a time limit to get everything that was left after we had moved "some"of my furniture and things to the new house. You must realize that when I say "what was left"meant enough to fill two or three commercial dumpsters.
The sorting and pricing and "displaying"began in earnest when my daughter Sara arrived after a couple of days filled with anxiety about "what to do with what"we then started looking for a service that would come and take all the accumulated true junk and haul it off. That accomplished, we began to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Getting ready for a garage sale when you have furniture, dishes, clothing, fishing and hunting gear, children's toys and such is a massive undertaking.
What really happens is you continually "jog"back and forth in a vain effort to make the right decisions. At least we answered the time-honored question: "How many Arkies, Okies, and Texans does it take to put on a garage sale ? "The answer is four. Thank goodness Sara's mother in law came to help. The right help at the right time. Then came the culminating experience that really showed me that God was working alongside. A wonderful man came who said he would take all we hadn't sold and cart it off - and that he did so because he loved to give things to various charities in the area and could see where lots of things would be wanted by some very needy groups. Jogging in a cul-de-sac ? Take a moment to find God jogging alongside, and say Thanks. Shalom !
• • • Bob Haynes'column appears on Mondays.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
