Friday Lunch

It is Friday lunch. I’m having tuna salad on homemade wheat bread with iced peppermint tea. Diana and I are sitting at the table gazing out on a beautiful day and listening to the Writer’s Almanac hosted by Garrison Keillor. He tells us that it’s the anniversary of Mark Twain taking a trip to Europe in 1867. Twain’s down to earth observations of culture on that trip became the book The Innocents Abroad. In it he said, "In Paris they just simply opened their eyes and stared when we spoke to them in French! We never did succeed in making those idiots understand their own language." It made me smile out loud.

Diana comments that in our eighties we will probably sit around the table saying,“Let’s be sure not to miss our program.” Ironically that was just about the age of my grandfather when we would have lunch together and he would tune in Paul Harvey. Together we would listen to Paul Harvey’s unique perspective on the news which always included the “For What It’s Worth Department” and “Tournament of Roses” which highlighted some couple who was celebrating an unbelievable anniversary like number 75. Then he would conclude with one of his dramatic pauses and “gooooood day.”

The birds are swarming on the ground outside the window. There are chickadees, starlings, doves, finches, humming birds, robins, sparrows and the occasional cardinal. Then like a shot they are off to take cover in the holly tree, back and forth, back and forth. They seem to never tire of this game. Of course our three feeders do nothing to discourage the all day entertainment they offer. It’s particularly fun to watch when the feeder has just been filled. Raining down seed on their feathered friends below, they seem to be saying, “Here you go everybody, let’s party!”

Sparrows are a favorite of mine - common, unassuming, numerous, plain. Years ago I was on a walk near our Shady Spring home. The day was gloomy or at least my mind was gloomy. The future and finances was uncertain which was very unsettling. Then out of nowhere a sparrow showed up bouncing, dancing, playing. It seemed to be a personal messenger reminding me that two sparrows are sold for a penny and not to be afraid because “you are worth more than many sparrows.” It was a surge of relief.

 

 

After lunch I put on my English flat cap, put on my Filas and go for a walk. The afternoon is pleasantly warm. I stroll past two churches and numerous houses before circling the parking lot of the Black Knight Country Club and returning. A Scripture comes to mind from this morning’s reading, “If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings, who would stand a chance? As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that's why you're worshiped.” That was especially needed today. It’s amazing how Omnipotence is perfectly timed to cross our path in personal and unexpected places.