#36 Lenten Reflections
Growing up in the 1970s, we were taught to take cover if the doorbell rang when mom and dad weren’t home. We all had hiding spots (mine was under the pine dining room table behind the leaves that hung over like big basset hound ears).
There was one exception when all of us – including Mom and Dad played along. If someone over 65 knocked on the door all dressed up in the middle of a dry, 90-degree NM summer day wearing uncomfortable shoes, we knew they were selling encyclopedias or religion. Mom made it clear WE HAD BOTH and did not need to answer the door, so the whole family scurried as if we were prepping for a surprise party.
I was reminded about this about ten years ago when Dexter said, “Mama, why are there a bunch of “grandparenty” people parked outside?”
Since Justin and I trained our kids to also hide from anyone at the door when they were younger (pre-Ring Doorbells) one of our boys whisper-yelled, “Here comes an old man to our door! Hide!!” I walked to the door with ease. Luckily the dogs were outside or their incessant barking and jumping would have scared their souls enough to make them sprint away in their church shoes. I confidently said, “Stay put, I’ve got this.”
Earlier that morning, I read Fr. Barron’s “Holy Saturday – Grain of Wheat” essay to the kids who pretended they were listening as they bustled around saying, “Yup, we heard it at church last Sunday.” It’s a great lesson about how a seed will only grow once it falls to the ground and breaks open. He says, “To understand what all this means, we should go back to the grain of wheat that falls to the earth. A seed’s life is inside, yes, but it’s a life that grows by being given away and mixing with the soil around it. It has to crack open, be destroyed.”
My interpretation:
So we have to break open, die a little, and fall a lot to truly reap the juicy fruit of life.
What the heck, I thought, I’ll talk to these people, they are just trying to spread some seeds around. I pulled down the screen to our storm door and greeted our visitors. One of the women commented on what a clever door it was – I agreed — as it has been perfect for visiting with other people and “spreading the word” — not only about God, but about the weeds in our front yard, or our windows that should be replaced for a small fortune. At the time, she noted that yesterday was Good Friday, and I said, “Yes, and today is Holy Saturday.”
“Oh, you sound like someone who really knows about Jesus.”
I didn’t want to truly show off and announce Easter was the following day, so I proudly said, “Yes Ma’am”. She was very kind, but I was on a schedule…I mean I hadn’t even worked out yet, and we still needed to color eggs…which should be part of the whole wheat lesson – lose the gluten and boil some eggs! The important Holy Week items that are too often placed on the back burner!
I did follow up with:
“I was just reading some of Father Barron’s writing.”
“Oh, then this information I’m giving you will just be a refresher for you.” She said kindly.
So I opened the door. And in a smooth, methodical sweep of her hand, she slipped me “the information” through the crevice of the door. I would have opened the door even more, but it seemed as if the amount of space I allowed was what she was used to…just a crack…enough to fit the 8 x 8 flier through, let a little light in, and share a moment.
“Have a Blessed Easter,” I said, and off they went to our neighbor’s home across the street. We all watched as they also slipped the flier through the 2-inch space allowed through our neighbor’s door.
“Who was it?” The kids asked, “What did they give you?”
“They gave us information about their beliefs and why they pray.”
“Well, who do they pray to?” The sun shone through the open front door. “Their Jesus”.
“Okay, when do we color eggs?”
That was it. Our Evangelic moment for the day.
A beautiful day to spread little grains of wheat and watch them grow. Yet another reminder that we are more alike than different.
Thanks for joining me,
❤️Lucretia
runonmom.com 