Sandra Heska King

daring to open doors

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In Which I’m Interrupted

February 8, 2012 By Sandra Heska King

I curl into my fluffy white bathrobe. The fragrance of Country Chic lotion mingles with the faint scent of bleach.

The morning sun streams through the front window, and a red cardinal eyes me from a bare branch.

I cup my hands around my His-compassions-never-fail mug and inhale the aroma of fresh-perked black coffee. Then I take a slow sip, roll the richness around in my mouth and swallow.

I sigh deep.

I’m alone with no demands–at least for a few hours.

I intend to read and write today.

That’s all.

I don’t intend to get dressed.

But the phone rings, and my daughter says she’s not feeling well and could I please take the grandgirl to school.

So I sigh and take my compassion coffee into the kitchen and slip into yesterday’s jeans (the ones with the holes in the seat) and my old yellow-paint-spotted MSU School of Nursing sweatshirt, both of which I left laying on the bathroom floor last night.

Because love sometimes sheds the white fluffy and slips into the holes and the hard spots.

I grab my purse, keys–and The Droid.

I’m surprised at the spring-like, sunshiny day.

And just a few feet down the road, I’m startled by a flock of geese on Lake Abby.

Not really a lake.

Not really a pond.

But a body of water formed by a broken county drain in the middle of the field. We’d have to pay to fix it. So we don’t.

I stop just off the road, roll down the passenger window, and aim The Droid.

I would have missed this while curled on the couch.

The grandgirl and I have good conversation on the way to school.

I look for the geese on the way back. They’re gone. But I see a couple brown things just past the cattails.

Could they be?

I hurry back to the house, grab the big girl camera and drive back.

I pull just inside my daughter’s long drive and park.

I leave the car running because this will just take a minute.

I should know better.

I’m fascinated by the light on the water, the cattail reflections, and the way my Keens crunch on frosted weeds.

I’ve seen the muskrat house before, but I’ve never seen a muskrat.

One seems to be enamored of his reflection. He (or she) remains motionless, while the other scratches and dives over and over.

He’s there, and then he’s not.

I don’t get very good photos, but I snap until the battery dies while the car continues to run, and I hope nobody runs off with it.

I know it’s a morning of just water and just geese and just cattails and just sunshine and just muskrats.

But I almost missed it.

I almost missed the interruption of love.

In community with the fearless Jennifer

while walking with beautiful Ann in a holy experience

and with Kimberly as she journeys toward epiphany

JourneyTowardsEpiphany

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Filed Under: stories and reflections

Comments

  1. Lisa notes says

    February 8, 2012 at 9:21 pm

    This is beautiful! Thank you for reminding me that those interruptions may be the most meaningful and loving parts of our day.

  2. Patricia says

    February 8, 2012 at 11:19 pm

    the most blessed girl and grand girl to have you…
    willing to shed the white fluffy and slips into the holes and the hard spots.

    hugs.

  3. diana says

    February 9, 2012 at 12:00 am

    Amen to what Pat said. They are blessed. But then, so are you. And those muskrats? Look for all the world like beavers to me. But then, I am most definitely NOT a country girl. :>) Love to you – hope you’re back in the robe and relaxing by now.

  4. Jennifer@GDWJ says

    February 9, 2012 at 12:25 am

    OH friend. How you see. YOU SEE!!! Your interruptions are insanely gorgeous.

  5. Sara says

    February 9, 2012 at 7:57 am

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts and pictures. I will look at the lake differently as I drive by today.

  6. kd sullivan says

    February 9, 2012 at 8:23 am

    So…your droid takes WAY better pictures than mine does! But I love how your sacrifice brought you far greater reward than your original plan. Isn’t that the way that He is? I believe He is busy planning Divine appointments for us every day. I’m glad that you didn’t miss this one. And I’m glad that you were able to linkup up with me over at Painting Prose. Your words are always a welcome respite to a girls whose world seems to be consistently filled with bad news…

  7. karen r evans says

    February 9, 2012 at 9:47 am

    Whoo Hoo what a wonderful surprise at your willingness to be interrupted! I love that!

  8. Nancy says

    February 9, 2012 at 2:04 pm

    I have to be honest; I was loving the image of you in your fluffy robe,fingers laced around your morning coffee. It was a good image. How like God, though, to interrupt me in the middle of something I think is perfectly good only to offer me something better. Beautiful, friend.

  9. Shelly Miller says

    February 9, 2012 at 4:17 pm

    This sounds like something I would do. And those pictures, they are awesome. I’ve never seen a muskrat either. Beautiful post that interruption brought you. I am still trying to get my head around you being married more than forty years and now there are grandkids too! Sheesh.

  10. Linda says

    February 9, 2012 at 9:22 pm

    I believe you have a gift for capturing those magical moments and for having the wisdom to embrace them.

  11. Stacy says

    February 10, 2012 at 1:10 pm

    Thank you for saying “yes” to this interruption. I hate to think what I would have missed had you said “no”. 😉

    Thank you for the blessing of your willing heart-
    Happy Weekend to you-
    ~Stacy

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