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Sunday, May 4, 2014

The Porch Pause

"In the eyes of the world, there is no payoff for sitting on the porch." 
~ Barbara Taylor Brown (from An Altar in the World:  A Geography of Faith)

porches
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A day or two ago my husband said to me, "Six o'clock?  In the evening? How can it be six already?"

It isn't as though it had been a hectic day, or anything like one.  We had breakfast, read the paper, drank a cup of tea (me) and coffee (him) and then got started on stuff.

He mowed.  I planted and then pulled weeds.  We took a couple of iced tea breaks - just for chuckles.

I mean this is about what our pace looks like most days.  Occasionally for a little high adventure, we huff down the hill to Costco.  The panorama that is human behavior in those aisles is usually enough to send us scurrying right back up to the ridge as fast as we dare go. 

The point being that we can hardly claim that life is moving along at a blistering pace; not at this season in our lives.  Just keeping up with the weeds is enough to give me blisters. And yet ...

It seems silly to admit it, and I have no explanation for it that will bear close scrutiny, still  - it is a challenge to find the time to just sit on the porch - and do absolutely nothing.

It seems audacious somehow.  Where is the upside?  What is the payoff?  How to justify the utter waste of time when all around people decry that time is our most precious commodity?

 According to the author noted above, this is part of our problem.  We feel we must "justify it" somehow, for some unknown reason.

Our culture does not approve of sitting on the porch doing nothing.  Oh sure, we are fine with sitting at the hair dresser, the library, the theater or the spa ... perhaps even the pew.  

After all, in these locations there is something being accomplished, if not by us then at least for us in ways that provide employment for others.  Okay then, there is some demonstrable value. 

But to just sit there, on one's own front porch, or back patio, doing nothing, saying nothing, actually not even thinking much.  Just being there.  
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I have a small thought on why it may satisfy some quiet need deep within our souls.  It is simply this:  we are, after all, created human beings.  Not human doings - but beings.  

I feel foolish, but it has taken me until recently to learn to enjoy just being.  But that front porch -or back patio - let me tell you, they are looking better every single day.  Talk about your basic simple pleasure!
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Hope you find a few moments to enjoy your porch this week.  No achievements or to-do list required.  Until next time ~ Marsha

11 comments:

  1. Dear Marsha!!! How have I been missing your posts? Thankfully I saw this one! Yes, time is a fleeting thing....however......I must admit that we DO find the time to sit and be. My husband is a great 'sitter' and has taught me a bit of this art. But I know what you mean. If it weren't for Louis Dean I would work from the time I get up to the time I go to bed - just 'doing' something! Sitting is an ART form!! To hear Louis Dean tell it, anyway!!

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    1. Thank you, Linda. I enjoyed visiting your blog and catching up on your doings!

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  2. I've missed you.

    This reminds me of a quote I read recently (and repeat to myself often): "No time enjoyed wasted is wasted time".

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    1. Say What - Thank you! Time enjoyed cannot be considered "wasted" ? Well, now that is
      really good to know. :)

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  3. Happy to see a post from you!
    You're so right about taking a break like that. We don't do it enough. I don't have a porch to sit on, but taking a break to enjoy what's going on around me is a good thing!

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    1. Mari, Glad to hear from you, too. I stopped by and was glad to see your facility had recently passed it's certification requirements. Sounds like a good place to work. And I'll bet you make it even better.

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  4. Loved this post! So sad that others view sitting on the porch this way. I think that coffee or tea just tastes better when sipped slowly on the porch! That is my time to be quiet and enjoy the things happening around me, listening to the birds, getting ready for my day, watching my south Georgia corner of the world wake up, and talking to God. Others may choose to see it as a waste of time, but it is vital to me and I offer no apologies for my porch time. My porches are not decorated for looks, but for enjoyment and we share them with our friends. our side porch was screened last year and I have just painted all of the furniture the happiest shade of green I could find. It will be a delight to share it with our firends! wish you were close enough to enjoy our porch with us!

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    1. A screen side porch in a happy shade of green ... well, it just doesn't get much better than that! Blessings to you.

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  5. I get the lesson here. Since retiring last year, we've maintained both front and back decks. He purchased a slider for the front porch and invites me often to sit and have coffee usually after dinner. Sometimes I'm too busy, but then I realize I need to give my hubby quality time. I'm getting better at just sitting as Ma & Pa, gliding back and forth.

    Have a great day!
    Mary

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  6. What a lovely post! So wonderful to see you in the blogging world again- you've been missed, my friend!

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    1. Shelly, So nice to hear from you. I have missed being "here" and am looking forward to catching up with your blog. Blessings to you - Marsha

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