Sift
& Sort
This
writing is dedicated to my friend, “E”. E is in her early 80’s, has Master degrees in counseling,
psych and also theology – we have truly incredibly wonderful, thoughtful and deeply
provoking conversations.
The
other day we were in the car stirring each other up with ideas and thoughts
when she said, it’s like sift and sort – that’s
what we do, sift and sort. My response
was what a great title for a book…and
she lost not one moment in saying, what a
great title for a sermon! Yes, she is correct – what a great title for a talk
from the heart of a lover/teacher of God.
It
truly is all we do – sift and sort through life, through one idea at a time –
or if you can multi think – through many ideas at one time.
When
we take on an idea, a thought, we live with it for a while, then what doesn’t work
falls through the sifter (If we will only let them go!) of our experiences and what we can be left with are
gold nuggets! Gems. I love the vision of the ole’
prospector, placing the sifter in the river
and gently shaking it as the grains of sand fall through to go back in the water…and
then watches to see what is left. Through sheer determination, one does it all
over again, and again, and again; determined to find the golden nuggets. Many
days I feel like that prospector – seeking the golden nugget.
E
and I sift and sort all day long. E has short term memory loss. We are constantly
sorting through what is what, and how are we going to, and what is what; again.
And then we sift - through the old stories, which are quite formidably at the forefront
of her mind and heart. Which story does she keep? Is there a new way of looking
at it?
There
are moments when I come to the heart centered realization that I signed up with
her through a spiritual contract to attempt to support the journey of choice with
a traditionally educated Episcopalian theologian in her 80’s with dementia. Even E will look
at me and say; Gods hand is in our relationship,
you know.
My
heart has been so deeply blessed through this opportunity. I once was the girl
who had all the answers and was rather unwavering in my presentation of them.
Now, I have grown into a woman who knows there are no answers except love – and
every day I am given experiences in which to live that out loud – by sifting and
sorting through my responses, my actions and my expressions, being continually grateful
to seek the Golden Nugget.
