Shortcuts

Here's what my husband tells me is going on in the food industry: there's an Eggo shortage. How does he know about it, and I don't?  Teachers. Apparently, this is what they talk about in the lounge--what's missing on the shelves at the grocery store. It's interesting to have access to this stimulating conversation among the women and men molding the minds of our children, but that's another post. Anyway, the Eggo debacle got us talking about what "everyone else" is eating, because a shortage of Eggo's is really not a big deal at our house.* My husband decided that most people are saving a great deal of time each week by choosing a different food acquisition path. He estimates that I could save an average of 3-4 hours each week, if I changed my routine to model that of his colleagues from school. To do that I'd need to start shopping more in the freezer section, learn how the microwave works, and give up my "NO McDonald's" stance. It's not going to happen. Sure it may take me a little longer to plan, prepare, and clean up a good ole' home cooked meal, but I've already talked about the importance of that in my life here.

So, of course, as a good Academy student, I began to think about the shortcuts I have taken in my connection with the Divine. It feels like I've spent most of my life looking for some sort of back door approach to God. If I serve on one more committee at church or attend this particular retreat or devote my career to the church or even go to seminary, then I will have a direct connect with God. I've been working pretty hard on all this stuff most of my life, and there have been some holy moments, but for the most part I'm left feeling like that shortcut food--a little fractionated. It's mostly just a list of things to do, rather than a way of being.

I'm beginning to see that what my heart truly desires is a connection with something greater than the sum of all my previous experiences. I'm seeking a way of life that's slow, intentional, and connected. I want to see the image of God in everyone I encounter and carry the Echad b'echad (One into One, One becomes One) with me always. Mostly, I want my life to be full of spiritual practices that generate more compassion in me and therefore the world. There's no shortcut to get there. So to avoid being de-railed by the continued shortage of Eggo's, I'm taking the long way around.

*we make homemade buckwheat pancakes to die for!