Sandra Heska King

daring to open doors

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Light and Empty

December 6, 2010 By Sandra Heska King

I tiptoe through empty. Mindful to step easy when I reach vinyl. Not wild about down.

Moisture clings to windows, and I see dimly.

The house vibrates with damp and hums with dry.

I’m instructed to turn the heat up past 58.

No need to tell me twice.

I can’t remember the last time we had the carpets cleaned. Certainly before Rose Dog’s illness. Mr. Carpet Man tries a new product on the stains that seem to vaporize in moments.

He’s going deeper still.

Sanitizing and deodorizing.

To make it rolling baby ready.

We moved four rooms of clutter into two other rooms this weekend.

And I don’t plan to move it all back.

Because I feel the light.

I crave the light.

And unencumbered travel. Clutter free. Emptied with focus full and free to roll.

I think about how light reveals and how light vaporizes.

How sometimes we have to climb up to see it.

And how sometimes we have to fall down.

And sometimes I think I think too much.

Joining L.L. Barkat at Seedlings in Stone as we celebrate On, In and Around Mondays.

On In Around button

Joining others as we count our multitude of blessings.

Today I’m grateful for:

  • Feathered friends.
  • Furry purrs.
  • Scent of clean.
  • Warmth from cold.
  • Forever love.
  • Hot tea.
  • A Kenyan girl.
  • What was and what will be.
  • Crisp white sheets.
  • Frosted green.
  • Fluffy socks.
  • Light that explodes through gray.

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Filed Under: stories and reflections

Comments

  1. Carol J. Garvin says

    December 7, 2010 at 2:14 am

    It’s always a lot of work getting things cleared away so carpets can be cleaned. We had carpets replaced last year, and to empty the rooms we ended up with things stacked outside on the deck! It’s lovely starting out fresh again, without the clutter of accumulated everyday stuff, but where do you put the things you don’t want to bring back? ‘Tis the season for “re-gifting”… maybe??? 😉

    • Sandra says

      December 7, 2010 at 11:16 pm

      Ahhh. I remember when we put this carpet in, and yes, we had stuff out on the porch and in the bedrooms (wood floors) and kitchen. Some of the furniture is my son’s who says we can dispose of it. Then there is baby stuff. But the rest? Yes, regifting or clothes closet. But not books. Can’t release the books. 😉

  2. Jessaca says

    December 7, 2010 at 9:25 am

    Hello Sandra
    Stopping by via Seedlings in Stone…we recently had our carpets cleaned. It was sad but nice to see how clean they became.
    We had our oldest cat get cancer and we did home treatments and she sucluded herself upstairs in my sons room and our room. So you can imagin alot of messes. Mainly from her meds.
    Have a great day and a wonderful week.

    • Sandra says

      December 7, 2010 at 11:18 pm

      Oh, I hear you. We had stains from cat upchuck, but especially from Rose Dog’s pancreatitis. We managed to hospiced Scruffy cat in my office where she had her accidents on the hardwood once she became confused. Hard.

      I even took the vacuum in today for an annual checkup and deodorizing. It smelled like dog.

  3. jeff jordan says

    December 7, 2010 at 2:39 pm

    “Emptied with focus full ready to roll.” Kind of like that…kind of want that in my life.

    • Sandra says

      December 7, 2010 at 11:19 pm

      😀

  4. deidra says

    December 7, 2010 at 7:52 pm

    I like the way you ended that.

    You wrote “deeper still” and it jumped out at me. I spent the weekend at the Deeper Still Conference in Birmingham, AL where Beth Moore and Priscilla Shirer talked about making space for God…allowing margins in our lives…clearing out the clutter…walking around in empty spaces, or just sitting there quietly.

    • Sandra says

      December 7, 2010 at 11:20 pm

      Oh, I’ve wanted to go to one of those conferences! I’ll have to see if I can get the tapes. They’re doing the last one next year?

  5. @bibledude says

    December 7, 2010 at 8:48 pm

    I’ve really gotta spend more time over here Sandra… you rock! I’m totally with you loving the light…

    Thank you.

    • Sandra says

      December 7, 2010 at 11:21 pm

      Thanks, Dan. I’d totally love having you hang out. I’m going to do that book study–book should be here tomorrow.

  6. S. Etole says

    December 7, 2010 at 11:41 pm

    Your ending line … you make me smile frequently.

    • Sandra says

      December 8, 2010 at 10:27 pm

      Awww, thanks.

  7. Duane Scott says

    December 8, 2010 at 9:38 am

    Love the ending line.

    That’s why I like reading your blog.

    Never quit thinking you think to much.

    • Sandra says

      December 8, 2010 at 10:28 pm

      As Susan said, you make me smile frequently. And you make me think. 😉

  8. Cheryl Smith says

    December 8, 2010 at 11:53 am

    I love seeing pictures of other people’s lives. Thanks!

    • Sandra says

      December 8, 2010 at 10:26 pm

      😀 😀

  9. David@Red Letter Believers says

    December 8, 2010 at 4:07 pm

    The first blog post I’ve ever read about cleaning carpets! I’ve lived a sheltered life 🙂

    • Sandra says

      December 8, 2010 at 10:26 pm

      It’s a good advertisement for hard wood floors. 😉

  10. Lyla Lindquist says

    December 8, 2010 at 9:21 pm

    Was that a harp? Like one you, Sandra, play?

    • Sandra says

      December 8, 2010 at 10:25 pm

      That’s a harp that I, Sandra, plunk. I took 2-hour lessons from a lady 2 hours away (one way) for a short time, but it got too expensive. Then I got busy writing. I need to get back to it. Or sell it. I have a hammered dulcimer, too, that I should do something with. It’s in there somewhere along with a Yamaha keyboard. 😉

  11. mo says

    December 9, 2010 at 10:35 am

    I know what you mean. It’s tempting to just toss stuff into a room and forget it. Clutter free is the way to be!

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