FIBER
"a thread or filament from which a vegetable tissue, mineral substance, or textile is formed."
The word has been echoing in my brain. I see so many disappointments in the world. Probably something to do with my thirty-something time in life, but I think it also has to do with my home. My home was not perfect. Life on a farm is hard. Even before we had a big farm, life in the sticks was hard. Money was almost always short. We ate tons of deer meat-out of necessity. We always wore hand-me-downs. Despite being on the under-side in a lot of circumstances, we were always taught to mind our manners and respect our elders. We were taught to put others above ourselves-others' needs. We were taught about Agape love-the true love of Christ. Our fiber, what we were built on, was strong. It was tough and it was loyal.
I look at so many life-decisions people are making and wonder, what is lacking in the fiber of their lives? What did they miss? Why are mundane things so life-or-death to them? Why do they risk relationship over self-image and popularity? Why do they see the need, the constant need, to be "applauded" by society, even Christian society? Why? What is missing? These are Christ-fearing folks, even; needy sinners aware of their sin, and they still so willfully let it take dominion over their everyday decisions...their self-worth.
I am so thankful that my fiber was woven strong and tight and out of lasting material. I know it doesn't take living in a map dot of a community to possess this foundation, but I tend to think it was easier. The constant struggle to maintain...the very rare presence of excess...the day-to-day reality of how temporal life really is. In my "big city life" I live now, it is so easy to forget what matters...how simple it really is.
My husband (a true life-long city boy) says it best, "What's more important...people or things?" Embrace the people...let go of the things.
