I laughed painfully when I read this quote about the narrator's ineffective mother at the start of "The Third Policeman". This sums up perfectly what I do now, with only two days teaching in the week and the whole house crying out for attention! It was also an unwittingly ironic precursor to the routine into which my Lent has fallen.
It started when I told the Wondrous Catherine that I was going to sit outside every day in March and drink a cup of tea, zealously intending to escape the domestic madness within and spend a few precious moments listening to the birds, now returned from warmer winter climes. Which sort of became a notion that it could be a Lent thing, and maybe the listening could be to God as well. Tea and Lent- they are, after all, two of my favourite things!
And thus was Outside Tea in Lent born! A farcebook friend decided she would do something different with chocolate (apart from giving it up) every day in Lent, and this is why you maybe see lots of pictures of mugs and dessert dishes on my daily feed! After that people started asking questions- what was it for, what was the idea, could they drink Outside Tea with me?
Today I did meet someone for Outside Tea. Today the wind is groaning down the chimney and the rain is lashing the daffodils into horizontal submission. Today we didn't even sit in the semi-al fresco shelter of the doggy porch- we sat inside wallowing in the central heating and watching the puddles rise up to meet the misty lough!
Last week, also on farcebook, which I might add I find mostly very useful, Our Daily Bread posted this picture:
And this is what Outside Tea in Lent is about. I might get to a late point in the day and think- oh good, I haven't had my Outside Tea today. I wrap myself up and sally forth. Sometimes I do read and pray and think. Sometimes I just listen to the soundtrack of my life: the birds, the husband, the boys, the friend. I'm hoping that by the end of Lent it will have forged a habit that gets to a late point in the day and thinks- oh good, I haven't had my great big dose of God's love and voice today. I'll wrap myself up and sally forth. I'd recommend it! And if you're within Outside Tea distance, pm me on farcebook!
Well, it's been a very exciting day in and around the Meadowplace today. I know you're all waiting with bated breath to meet Jolly...
Hello! Sending you all lots of love from Northern Ireland, where nothing much changes just as everything changes, as usual. Time has stood ...
8 comments:
That does sound wonderful! I kind of had an idea of what you were doing, but it helps to have it explained. I would join you, but I'm not as sturdy against the winter elements as you, seriously. It's been too cold, blowy, rainy on many days for this wimpy Southern girl to drink tea outside! But I will ruminate on the concept, and think about joining you. It's a good idea, Mags!
Great idea! Me, too!
A wonderful creative idea for Lent.
A wee bit cold here for tea outside, but I am enjoying your tea vicariously, and drinking an inside cup. :)
It's a fine idea! I hope it does become your habit. I'm still drinking indoors, but I love a cuppa out on the porch in spring/summer. Love the Daily Bread pic and yours too.
A great idea (if you like tea!) I hope that you are hearing God...or just sitting with Him. I remember reading a sentence that was ascribed to an old gentleman, who, when asked what he was doing just sitting in the church, said "I sits here, and I looks at him and he looks at me, and we love each other"
May you enjoy looking at God.
I seem to have started a new tradition of drinking coffee while reading the newspaper. I know, many many people have done that all their lives, but I never had until now. I never had the newspaper before, either.
It's better than pouring my tea, running around like a chicken with its head cut off, remembering my now-cold tea, heating it in the microwave, forgetting it again and not even hearing the patient "beep." Repeat all morning...
Thank you for your good example, Dear Mags. XO
What a wonderful idea!! Getting into habits of stillness is a brilliant idea!
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