Spontaneity: nice idea. Tough, though, for those with Lists. Those who don’t want their plans disturbed.
- Finish article
- Scour kitchen
- Shower
- Immerse in novel
This is Plan A. Also Plan B.
And probably C, judging from my testy response to my mate saying, “Let’s drive to Mt. Spokane!”
Disturbed by his interruption, I look up from my keyboard and probably glare.
“Great day for a picnic,” he adds, grinning. “I’ll pack the car.”
Joining him means a second, longer list:
- Abandon article
- Ignore Code 3 kitchen
- Postpone shower
- Change clothes
- Slather on sunscreen (i.e. baste self in 50 SPF mayo)
- Drive for three hours
Above all, forgo today’s Action Plan. I waffle and sputter.
Did fear write My List? If so, nothing worthwhile will bloom from my efforts.
When did I relinquish spontaneity?
Truth and Timing
At this point I remember a friend and I recently agreed, online, to each spend time enjoying nature—this weekend. It’s Sunday afternoon. Our agreement is public: As long as there are electrons, our words are out there. Talk about motivation.
Besides, what might I miss if I stay home and work?
I dress too fast, buckle myself into our vintage car. Then I notice my outfit: B&W paisley pants, t-shirt with colorful stripes, green fish, and blue swirls against black water.
En route to my closet again for plain black capris, I do the shoe-shuck dance. A last breath of delicious AC, a final gaze at my chair and books.
Today I will practice spontaneity.
Dreamer has the top down, engine running. I settle back to watch clouds. We haven’t been to the mountain in ages.
Nearing the summit, ivory splendor stuns us. It’s glorious! In forty years, we’ve never seen Beargrass bloom on Mt. Spokane.
I almost missed out on wonder today.
Muscle and Delicacy
Once home again, I read about Beargrass, also called pine lily, Western turkeybeard, soap grass, and quip-quip. Showy blossoms crown hefty stalks. Per plant, up to 400 buds the size of a fingernail will unfurl.
Stamens sport long violet filaments, like movie stars in chiffon scarves.
And this: Beargrass blooms in five to seven year cycles. No wonder I’ve never seen it here!
Moving up the stalk, firework blossoms open, altering the flower’s overall shape . . .
from sphere
to cone
to cylinder.
Muscular stalks bolt from a wiry nest of leaves. One source describes leaf veins as parallel “keeled rib-lines.”
I think of my own muscles, grown soft from weeks of travel.
And what about spiritual stamina? Can plants mentor people? Could I become “disturbance tolerant”?
Beargrass survives forest fire, drought, frost, and avalanche.
Beargrass thrives almost anywhere, from summits to dense forests to sea-level bogs.
Sacred Spontaneity
Is today’s List sacred?
Can you let at least part of it go, make time to be surprised by creation, and the Creator?
NOTE: A couple we met on the mountain said this is a banner year for Beargrass.
If you live near Spokane, cross something off your list, take a camera, some snacks, and go see it.
Or head outdoors wherever you are, see what you find . . . I’d love to hear about it.
Spontaneity rewards those who accept its invitations.
I make the list with the notion that God has guided its assignments. But how much of Niki’s drive, achievement obsession, and other human elements influence what I presume are God’s priorities? So many times I’ve been prompted to abandon the list and choose spontaneity–and wonder of wonder, I was rarely disappointed! Laurie, you are not unlike most of us Type As. “Lord help us! There are countless things in addition to Beargrass we do not want to miss!”
Oh Niki, those are the questions I ask too! Your willingness to abandon The List at times inspires me to stay open on a regular basis. So many wonders, so fleeting the times . . .
I love that test…”Is today’s list sacred?”
Such a good determiner of how to steward our time!!
Michelle, I confess I gulped when I typed that line. It left my fingers before my brain fully registered its impact. Glad it spoke to you, too! thank so much for dropping by.
Laurie, I love how you awakened to wonder from list-induced somnolence. So often the ‘To Do’s strike feelings of lethargy, irritability and ‘less than’ when we fail to cross things off as we think we should.
Spontaneity doesn’t come easily to me, but you are inspiring me to at least seek sacred echoes in my days and watch for wonder creeping into the corners.
I may be on a blogging break and in a season of rest, but stopping by your site always provides me with a breathing space as I drink in your words. So here I am again, drawn in by the reflective restfulness of your prose and beautiful photos. Thank you! 😊
Hi Joy! You have been on my mind and in my prayers. I’m honored and grateful that you spent precious rest time to read this post. Your comment about lists making us feel “less than” nails it. I hadn’t thought of those words but yes, that’s often the inner message I get, so familiar I often miss comparisons forming! I’m grateful for the tip!! Blessings on you in this quiet season.
Oh Laurie, I can identify with so much in your post. Thank you for your lovely words and encouragement. My word this year is “wonder” so I especially love “I almost missed out on wonder today” and will share that on Twitter along with “Spontaneity rewards those who accept its invitations.” Thanks for the encouragement.
Thank you, April, and you’re so welcome. I’m grateful you felt encouraged.
Wonder: what a terrific focus word for your year. I have a forthcoming post in the works about my word for this year, though the year will be winding down by the time I publish it!
Thank you so much for tweeting those two lines. What a generous online friend you are. And way more social media savvy than I am. 🙂 Twitter seems beyond my reach at this point.
Your delightful post didn’t just speak to me, Laurie; it SHOUTED! I’m a champion list-maker who takes great joy in staying productive and checking things off–a leftover habit from the days of teaching school, raising three kids, and being a pastor’s wife. Organization and efficiency were essential to survival. Retirement is most definitely the time for spontaneity and loosening my grip on lists. WELL! Wednesday morning we awoke to a sun-spangled morning with temps in the upper 50s and low humidity. I sat for two hours on the deck, my knees wrapped in a throw, journal on my lap, and simply reveled in God’s glory around me. The to-do list had to be shortened, but it was INCREDIBLY worth it! Time spent outdoors with God in his environs provided unique soul-therapy–different from that of indoors, say in Bible study (as valuable as that is). I also experienced a joyful after-glow that lasted well into the day. (I think the radiant glory of God’s creation clung to my clothes!)
Nancy, first of all, I salute your efficiency. We both know it’s often crucial. Secondly, I applaud that cozy oasis time on your deck!!
You were my inspiration last weekend to finally drop everything and go to the mountain. So thank you for our brief interchange in the Comments on Jody’s blog post. I needed that accountability.
Love that image of you walking around in glowing clothing.
What an honor for me to offer inspiration to you! I felt the same need for accountability, thus my confession over at Jody’s blog. P.S. I’ve written three entries thus far in my “Deck Discoveries” journal–I sense momentum building! 🙂
So exciting to hear The Fruit Report from your time on the deck, friend! I will look forward to absorbing your insights. 🙂
So much to love in this vignette. You’ve encouraged me today…thank you.
Jody, thank you! That little conversation I had with Nancy, after we both read your lovely blog was just the impetus needed to leave my list behind for a while.
Thank you, Laurie, for this post. I’ve always been fascinated by bear grass, too. I’ll share your blog with my family members – we all watch for bear grass. I so totally get your struggle with plan vs spontaneity! Thank you for reminding me that God has gifts for us all over the place. We need to say yes, because they are gone tomorrow.
Hi Linda Jo. Bill went up the mountain again yesterday and said the beargrass has already faded. Your words about saying yes to the fleeting gifts of the day is so wise. That’s how I long to live. Maybe I need a verbal tattoo . . .
“I think of my own muscles, grown soft from weeks of travel” Oh, boy could I commiserate! I did something about that this week… When my dear husband, spur-of-the-moment, excused me from going on yet another business road trip this week, I quickly called my sister. She came over the mountains for a three day visit. First order of business: water aerobics at the local outdoor pool. But there were also nature walks, and yoga stretch sessions and river beach combing and antiques scouting and a large dose of story swapping and laughter. She returned home yesterday and I am completely rejuvenated. I can attack all the lists with renewed vigor! Your beargrass post was beautiful in every way. Thank you for inviting me into a “holy pause”.
Thank you, Pacia. It’s always great to hear from you. And what a wonderful spontaneous three days of sister time! I especially like those two words: “renewed vigor.” I must remember those as part of the rewards of spontaneity next time I waffle. 🙂
I love the idea of the shoe shuck dance, Laurie girl! Looking forward to practicing some spontaneity with you soon! Shucked shoes optional! Thanks for the reminder to wonder amidst the splendor available almost everywhere we stop long enough to notice …
Now there’s a dance we could do together! Judy, thanks for dropping in to read and wonder with me. Your last sentence is wonder-full. 🙂 I do so want to live those words!