Savoring the Light

When it comes to being bright enough to see when something good is right in front of me, I can be a real dim bulb. But even for faint lights like me, there occasionally comes a moment when you feel things coming together, falling into place. This was one of those weekends at the farm. Rick (Audrey’s dad) and I put up the remaining rafters, bracing for the overhangs, and began putting up facia boards. These were 1-inch boards that we cut on the sawmill from a big oak tree that fell on the other side of the creek. None of these jobs went terribly quickly, being awkward work with heavy materials done almost exclusively overhead, but they did go steadily. And while we did not get as far as we had hoped this weekend (we got no plywood on the roof), it was a satisfying weekend nonetheless.

The work itself was satisfying because the cabin is really starting to look like a dwelling. The finished structure is becoming easier and easier to visualize. It feels good to have come this far, even if there is still a mountain of work to do. One thing at a time.....

But that’s not the main reason that this weekend was so rewarding. It was the people who shared the weekend with us. On Saturday, Audrey’s brother Chris came out with his kids, and our kids were able to bring their friends Mackenzie and Danielle with them for the day. Despite Ada’s minor instances of girl drama, they all had a good time. They ran like hooligans all over the property and up and down the creek across the road. Then Danielle and Mackenzie tagged along with us to church on Saturday night. They arrived back at home exhausted, happy kids, all of them.

On Sunday some of Audrey’s extended family stopped out. It was very good to see relatives from out of town who we do not see often. It was nice to hear their enthusiasm for the work we’d been doing, to share a quick meal and a laugh or two.

Thich Nhat Hanh says in The Art of Power that when we are too focused on achieving personal/material goals “we sacrifice the present moment for the sake of the future. We are not capable of living deeply every moment of our daily lives.” More often than I’d like to admit, that’s me. I’m so impatient to get the cabin done, get a kiln built, or do whatever else it is I think I should be doing that I’m inclined to miss the good things that are going on around me.

As we were finishing up work on Sunday, a warm golden light flooded in through the rafters that we had just finished hanging. The kids were still running around and swinging on the rope swing. Our relatives climbed up and down the ladder to “inspect” our work one last time. Soon we would all head home. It occurred to me that despite the fact that we had not gotten as far as we had hoped (does anyone ever?), we’ll get there in time. What was more important was to realize why we’re doing this in the first place. To enjoy time spent as a family, to create good memories for the kids, to appreciate what we’ve been given. If we can’t savor the happiness that today has to offer, what are the chances we’ll appreciate tomorrow’s blessings?