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Beautiful Powerlessness
Whether they are religious, agnostic, or an atheist, I think most people would see the value in having a day of rest. A pause in the busyness of life. A way to connect as a family.
Mr. Frantic and I have chosen to honor Sunday as a Sabbath day. We intend it to be all of these things as well as a day of worship.
This means for us, that we do not shop or go out to eat, go to movies, museums, amusement parks or any other commercial activities, or do any non-essential work, including house and yard work. Invitations to for Abby to come play are politely declined. We spend the day together, as a family. It should be a day of rest, where we choose to pause the everyday business of life and instead focus on activities that bring us closer to each other and to God.
Our morning satisfies these objectives quite well. We generally make breakfast together, appreciating the knowledge gained during my husband’s teenage years working at an Original Pancake House. After enjoying pancakes that GW declares “the best in whole world” the whole family “scrubs and tubs” and dress in our Sunday best for church.
It’s after church where I feel that the vision falls apart.
Lately, we have gotten into the bad habit of coming home from church and watching tv. All day.
It started out with an occasional “Family Movie Day”. Then Mr. Frantic and I realized that if we put on a movie, we could fall asleep on the couch while our girl watched. It was an easy way to sneak in a Sunday afternoon nap.
Eventually we stopped turning off the tv after the movie ended.
And then it became a habit. Albeit an uneasy habit, at least for me.
Somehow it doesn’t feel like a Sabbath. It feels like a way to wait out the day. To make it pass quickly so we can get back to our regular routine. And it doesn’t fit well with what we are trying to accomplish with the day. Is sacking out in front of the tv all afternoon more worthwhile than going to a museum together or allowing GW to play at a friend’s house? Absolutely not. We could do so much better.
So on Sunday morning, while Mr. Frantic and I were still lying in bed, we had the following conversation:
Me: I’d like to have a tv-free afternoon today after church.
Him: Again? We just had one a couple of weeks ago. Remember we played Monopoly?
Me: And wasn’t it fun?
Him: It was ok, but I’d rather just relax today.
Me: Well-
My sentence was interrupted by GW cannonballing into our bed. And the conversation was over.
Fast forward several hours. We just got home from church. I am making myself a sandwich. My husband switches on the tv.
I sigh and resignedly sit down on the couch next to him to watch Marc Summers explain how chocolate-dipped strawberries are made.
And then…a Sunday miracle:
The cable goes out!
And the phone.
And the internet.
He grumbles a bit at the high winds outside, but I secretly rejoice.
I gather up our girl and we begin making Ginger Pear Muffins in the kitchen.
She puts on her chef hat and chatters to me as she peels pears. I teach her to level off dry ingredients with the back of a knife and she beams with pride.
“Mom,” she says, “I feel really good about me right now.” Me, too.
As we are baking the lights begins to flicker. I hope the power will stay on until we are done. Please. Please. Please…
The lights go out just as I pull the golden-brown muffins out of the oven. We giggle at the perfect timing.
The three of us sit at the table to eat warm muffins and make homemade valentines by the flickering light of an kerosene lantern. GW comments that her valentines are way better than the ones we saw at the store, and her dad and I agree.
The house is so still. Peaceful. Reverent. Like a Sabbath should be.
After the last valentine is signed we take our lantern in the living room where GW gives us an impromptu piano concert.
Mr. Frantic and I snuggle under a blanket on the couch and listen to Row, Row, Row Your Boat. It sounds wonderful.
After a time, our daughternotices that we are cozying up together without her. This is not to be tolerated. She wedges herself between us and asks to play a game. I suggest one from my childhood that we have never played before. It’s a word game about the pioneers called “I’m Going Across the Plains”. The game seems fitting for the atmosphere surrounding us.
We take turns saying what we will be bringing with us “across the plains”. Each new item must start with the next letter of the alphabet and all the prior items must be listed.
“I’m gong across the plains and I’m bringing an apple, a bat, a cat, a doll, an egg-beater…
It is challenging to remember all of the items we are bringing. We laugh as the items become crazier: Gatorade, Mustard, a yellow-bellied scruffy squirrel. Our daughter’s eyes shine in the lamp light.
By the time we finish, it is time for bed. My husband and daughter use a flashlight to find their way up the stairs, but I pause at window and look out. All of the neighbor’s homes are dark. I wonder how they have entertained themselves for the past few hours.
Were they cursing the darkness?
Or had they, like us, found it to be a blessing?
I hope for them that it was the latter.
The flashlight is still chasing shadows on the wall as I ascend the stairs to kiss my girl goodnight.
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4 Responses to “Beautiful Powerlessness”
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Once upon a time there was a Heidi…
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It sounds like you had a wonderful Sunday afternoon! Sometimes it’s nice when all of the power goes out–at least for awhile! We used to play that game when I was little. Thanks for reminding me of that one!
wow. that truly sounds like a sabbath day. thank you for reminding me how peaceful sundays can be.
[...] use their own personal stamp to “sign” the box’s logbook. On Saturday, (so as not to break our rule regarding commercial activities on Sunday) we prepared for our adventure. At the local craft store [...]
Thanks for that post. I too have a love-hate relationship with TV. I am in your ward and followed the link in the Relief Society Newsletter and here I am. I am addicted to reading blogs and am happy to see there is someone out there who blogs essentially everyday. I will have lots of good reading material! I love your writing. You are very clever. Maybe I will introduce myself to you on Sunday.
Amber