Boot Repair

-

This is the end of my seventh New England winter and I just discovered the discipline of cleaning and waxing boots before storing them away for the summer. The squalls are over and the snow piles melted a few weeks ago, but this chore remains. 

Just like all the winters before, I could have put the boots away without caring for them. I could have shoved them to the back of the closet or in the bin under the bed for the next six months, complete with their salt and mud stains. It’s easy to tuck away the dirty boots when the lure of the cute flats and flip-flops calls. 

Maybe it’s middle age or maybe I am tired of needing my boots in the fall and finding them unkempt. Maybe it’s both. But what I am learning is that the damage from the long winters of snows and salts just takes time to repair. If I spend the 15 minutes of wiping off the storm residue and rubbing the leathers with oils, the cracks can be minimized. The oils act as a balm and a waterproofer. It’s healing and protective. Much like time spent with Jesus. 

When we’ve been hurt by the storms in our lives or damaged by just living in this world, developing the discipline of wiping away the mess and allowing Jesus to soothe our aches is life-giving. Yes, these are just boots I am cleaning up and it seems so basic, but I am at the stage in my life where practicing such a boring sounding discipline is a clear reminder that I need tending to also. 

Most of life’s storm scars aren’t as easily healed as my leather boots.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me- watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” 
- words of Jesus from Matthew 11:28-30, The Message Translation


These boots went so long without care that it will take a few passes of oil to truly get them back to their best condition, the same applies to us. It’s rare that one morning spent with Jesus will fix it all, but the coming back again and again, turning to him morning after morning for more healing, more soothing, more protecting. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Make new friends but keep the old, some are silver and the other is gold

-
Image
Women Are Scary (book review) Honestly, I was a bit skeptical of this book. I am not a fan of fluffy reads nor books that are overtly girly. It’s like the girly gab oozes through sometimes and I can’t handle the silly remarks. But, I was wrong. Melanie Dale is hysterical. I am a huge fan of clean, stand-up comedy and I was literally laughing aloud in my backyard while I read her book. While I sat with the kids outside, I chuckled through the first few chapters before I had to shake the sand out of the baby’s clothes and do tick checks. Melanie also found a way to win out past mom-to-three-exhaustion at night and I kept picking up her semi-scary covered book.  Woven in between her super funny stories, Melanie (I pretend she and I are on first name basis because she replied to my facebook comment about what “base” moms are on when they take over the kids’ trampoline) gets real with the fears and frustrations moms of all walks of life face when wanting friends.  Be...
Read more

6 months and 1 day

-
That's approximately 187 days since I blogged last. I have written and rewritten things to post, but I end up deleting them or changing my mind. I have waited for inspiration to write. When those fleeting moments have come, I usually didn't have my computer around to write, so the inspiration flitted away. Mostly, I have been tired and focused on other things. I have also been bugged by many bloggers lately and not wanting to lump myself in with the whole mess of them. I don't want to be pegged as one of the lame bloggers. When I first began blogging years ago, the goal was just to get used to putting myself out there. With time, I became (somewhat) used to posting my thoughts on things, lessons I learned about life and Jesus, and other topics. I would write and toss it out there for all to see. But then I let my head get to me. I began filtering my writing through certain people- the colleague I aim to be like, the relative that thinks they know me, the one waiting for...
Read more

Snow Queens and C0vid

-
Image
  Most years we visited the Legendary Santa as kids. Just before meeting with Santa, visitors stopped and talked with the Snow Queen first. She was a young woman, wearing a beautiful white gown and long silky white gloves. Alongside her bright smile was a tiny microphone which I always noticed and momentarily wondered where it went. She asked our names and if we had ever met with Santa before and, if time allowed, what we were hoping to ask Santa to give us at Christmas. Once the family in front of us was finished with their 5-minute conversation and picture with Santa, it was our turn. Magically, he called us each by name, remembered us from last year and asked if we were still wishing for the toys we requested in our letters. He asked about how school was going and if we were still going to set out the delicious cookies he liked so much. His tiny earpiece and the tape on his cheek weren’t overlooked by young me. I couldn’t put my finger on why I felt so welcomed with this Santa a...
Read more