A lady from church called me two weeks ago and asked if I could be
on a committee that would be in charge of the newsletter for
the South Baton Rouge Christian Childrens Foundation. ( www.sbrccf.org
if anyone’s interested) At that time, I knew next to nothing
about the foundation, but it sounded good, and interesting, so I said
sure. She called because she remembered me saying, seven months
ago when we met, that I had an English degree.
The truth is, I really only ended up with the degree because I
couldn’t really think of any better ideas. English seemed like
the best choice because it is one of the few academic areas that I ever
showed any promise in, and also because I had the most hours
already accumulated in writing and literature classes. Also, and
of course, I enjoy writing and reading more than I enjoy a lot of
things. (Ha ha! Do you get the irony in an awfuly
constructed paragraph about choosing English as a major?)
The truth is, had I not gotten the husband, child and subsequent
degree, I’d probably be sleeping on a piece of yellow foam inhabited by
bedbugs in Tanzania somewhere by now. So, Africa, or
Motherhood–either way, the degree seemed somewhat perfunctory.
But, here I am with it.
And it turns out it might be useful after all.
I have been considering recently how very much time I just fizzle
away doing nothing of even immediate importance–not to mention eternal
importance. And seriously, why am I here…so I can watch the
seventeenmillionth episode of Oprah? Get the mail for the
sixhundreth time? Vaccuum and go to the post office, and nap and
peel potatoes?
Please don’t misunderstand me, I adore my role as a mother and wife,
and I am quite sure that fufulling those roles is exactly my purpose
for being right now. But I am also quite sure that I am much much
too lazy, physically and intellectually. My eyes are glazing over
and I am missing many opportunities this life and my God would afford
me.
So, back to the newsletter. I need to be more useful, and I am
thankful that since I had not been pursuing opportunities to be so,
that this one was sent UPS to my door.
Would that my eyes were opened to the good works God has prepared in advance for me to do.
dchalenburg | 22-Mar-05 at 10:41 pm | Permalink
Rock on. Good ending quote. And by the way, you forgot to put a period at the end of the last sentence of the “awfuly constructed paragraph”, which makes the statement ever so much more poignant. You’re just sitting there on the edge of your seat just wondering “Where is she going next…”
dave
I’ve notice that I have started using elipses a lot. I wonder why…
elizac | 23-Mar-05 at 12:18 am | Permalink
i completely understand your feelings of laziness. that is my life as of now as well. but i’ve been able to do things that i wouldn’t have otherwise which have turned out to be a blessing. i hope this is one of your blessings.
timwylie | 23-Mar-05 at 9:34 am | Permalink
i think you’re the best writer i know of. And i’m sorry that i detoured some of your dreams, and i guess i detoured some of mine as well. but, i know that together we will be used. –that being said, you forgot your second “o” on the word “too” in the phrase “much too lazy”. and i love you. my engrish major.
cheezwizlizbiz | 23-Mar-05 at 11:33 am | Permalink
I hear you.
Just think of all the Dostoevsky you have to read right now. 😀
third_man | 23-Mar-05 at 11:58 am | Permalink
You’re my favorite english-degree-holder. And certainly one of my favorite moms.
Thia7278 | 23-Mar-05 at 5:40 pm | Permalink
So there is hope that one day I may get some use out of my degree? Fantastic!
mccaulg | 23-Mar-05 at 9:42 pm | Permalink
Hey girl. I too, appreciated the ending quote. And you’re the most moving writer that I read. I still have several of your musings from times past. I don’t read some of them very often because of the tears and lump in the throat they bring. You know me, the avoider. That’s also why I did not respond to the Tanzania post. It’s such a precious and emotional work that is going on there and I know how much it means to you.
Both of my girls have such BIG HEARTS just like their mother.