Teaspoons

Greetings Dear Reader,

Recently I found a kitchen item I have been missing for years. It is a simple thing but also important. Growing up in the south we always had long handled teaspoons in the house. They were at one time standard when one bought cutlery. After searching I found some excellent ones at a kitchen specialty shop. Although I do not drink sweet tea as much as I used to they are handy for mixing things in tall glasses. (It is important to note that proper sweet tea does not need stirring because one is adding sugar but because one is adding lemon or stirring in a mint leaf.)

It was hard to find the spoons but the search and result were worth it. As I pondered the search and result it brought to mind other things that seem hard to find in our world. Things that seem to be also slipping into the past are respect, kindness, patience, and generosity. It used to be that these were common in our society. It used to be that we considered others in our actions. This is as hard to find as a teaspoon.

I see far too much disrespect for others. Too often I see aggression replacing courage. I see arrogance instead of respect for societal and common sense rules. It is disheartening. Imagine the impact of true respect on others. Respect that comes from the heart that sees others as valued can render so much peace.

Kindness is also difficult to find. It is not that we have forgotten how but rather that we get too caught up in our own world to be aware of the needs of those around us in the moment. We do not make ourselves aware of the needs around us. It is a simple thing to act kindly in the moment. We just need to be willing to do it.

Patience is reflected greatly in its absence. The entire world seems in a hurry to get where they are going. People rush through traffic and the grocery store with little concern for the impact their actions have on others. The thought is for the personal agenda and schedule. Everything else is in the way.

All of these ills are culminate in the lack of generosity. There is rampant hunger in the world and needs around us every day. The truth is most of us has more than we need. In our disrespect, impatience, and unkindness we neglect the needs of others. It is so easy to be generous. It is so profound when we are.

If we were to exercise the grace necessary to be kind, patient, respectful, and generous, we would have to say very little about Christ for others to see him in us.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a home owner. He brings new and old things out of his treasure store."