Have I told y’all that I’m getting married soon? Just kidding. I know I have. And if you’re not keeping track like me, it’s in 9 days. I’m fairly confident some people in my life are tired of me mentioning it. I have accepted that it is my personality until the day arrives . . . and then some more. That’s what’s expected though, right?
What’s ironic about that though is that while Justin and I are continuously planning logistics, Justin doesn’t make a big hype about our wedding day. At least, he doesn’t have the same hype as he does for us being married. Nearly every day he brings up his excitement for us to be finally living together, as he daydreams of what all can be and will be for our lives together. “Oh the places WE will go, and the things WE will do,” would be his book title if he was Dr. Seuss. It’s sweet to join him in his excitement for our marriage, as it reminds me that if all of the planning goes sideways, it’s okay because I’ll be married. With all the stress that comes with planning, it can be easy for me to forget why I’m doing all the things I’m doing - running errands, making lists, etc.
I wonder how much of life is like that? Constantly being in motion and needing to be reminded of why we are doing the things we’re doing. Life can easily be draining if we forget why we do the things we do. Life can also be unsatisfying if our day-to-day normal is completely disconnected from what would give us meaning in our lives. Oftentimes, we find ourselves in these scenarios. We find ourselves in jobs that leave us feeling vanquished than empowered. We’re constantly on the “go go go” that we do not stop and appreciate why that is - friends and family, aspirations.
Perhaps every once in a while we should take an inventory. Kind of like the KonMari method of organizing physical clutter, which is basically holding stuff in your hand and if it doesn’t spark joy, throw it out. I’m not simply talking about physical objects, but about life as a whole.
When thinking of centering ourselves with what sparks joy and gives our day-to-day lives meaning, my mind leaps to the gospel of Luke (my favorite gospel). In Luke’s narrative, Jesus’s ministry is largely centered around meals. Through meals, Jesus focalized fellowship, teaching, and creating personal connections. I like to think of those meals as an inventory moment of Jesus holding what gives him joy, basking in why he’s traveling throughout communities of faith sharing the Kingdom of God to a famished world. It’s so relatable, as we sit down at dinner tables with our parents, spouse, friends, and/or kids, and we come to know why we do some of the things we do too. Similarly, as a church we gather at the communion table every Sunday, remembering that we are one body in Christ, living for each other.
Place parts of your life into your hands. What gives you joy? What’s worthy of being thrown out? What is life-giving? What creates meaning? What’s draining? Obviously, realities and people are not the same as objects. You cannot throw out your most frustrating relative. But through taking inventory we can decenter what leaves us feeling debilitated and create room for the forgotten things that give us joy.
Your sibling in Christ,
Pastor Alec Brock, Seminary Intern