“Hobbies?” asked our daughter.
“Yes, many older people get a hobby of some sort when they retire.”
(And we mull over a list of assorted hobbies and
examples our older friends have displayed.)
“Dad already has a hobby,” she exclaimed.
“What?”
“Pick up sticks.”
We laughed ourselves silly!
Five … Six … Pick up sticks.
(Go ahead and sing!)
She was so cute and accurate.
We have many trees on our property.
Limbs are continually falling … big ones …
and small ones …
And it’s not uncommon to see my husband walking with a stick,
an armful of wood,
or driving the lawn mower with the trailer full of wood.
Sometimes my daughter drives the mower
and points out sticks for my husband to pick up.
And they have a glorious time doing that!
Picking up the big sticks – logs – can hurt.
They hurt the back.
They hurt the gut.
And there are ones called “widow-makers” …
if they fall on you,
they kill you.
And gloves are necessity because of snakes.
Yes, walking the property takes alertness and caution.
They take all the sticks – wood – to a burn pile.
Huge ones that lap over the pit …
and small ones.
And when that pile gets really big, we burn it.
That is a great time for S’mores!
And that is a great time to call friends over.
But it reminded me of all the sticks we pick up …
All the sticks we carry and never lay down …
Sticks of fear …
Sticks of regret …
Sticks of regret …
Sticks of failure …
Sticks of ugliness …
Sticks of resentment …
Sticks of abandonment …
Sticks of abandonment …
Sticks of discouragement …
“Come to me,<sup class="crossreference" value="(D)”>
all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.<sup class="crossreference" value="(E)”>
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,<sup class="crossreference" value="(F)”>
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11: 28-29
Seven … Eight … Lay them straight.
What sticks have we unintentionally picked up?
What sticks are we carrying?
What sticks need to be laid down?
We must lay them straight.
Take those sticks to the burn pile.
Refuse to let them hurt your gut.
Don’t let them kill you.
Lay them straight down.
Burn them.
Take them to God.
Call Family-in-Christ and celebrate.
Rest.
Nine … Ten … Begin Again.
Thank you, Father God, for new beginnings.
(Caution: Picking them up again will only cause burn. Resist.)
Shelli Littleton 