I love humour and I love to laugh! Anything from a private smile or a quiet chuckle to the kind of laughter I have no control over. It reminds me I’m alive, often shifting my perspective and splashing joy in my day.

On my way to a friend’s house recently, I enjoyed a little chuckle. As I rounded the corner leading out of our suburb, I saw a man and his dog. I’ll try to describe exactly what I saw so it seems a little more worthy of a chuckle.

The man was a little younger than me, and as I slowed, I had time to take in the full detail of what he wore. A pair of baggy, faded, seen-a-better-day pair of shorts and a matching tee shirt - not matching in colour, more matching in age and state of disrepair! A tatty hat and a pair of old thongs finished off the far-from-perfect outfit. In the millisecond before I noticed anything else, I was already smiling and what I noticed next, gave wings to my chuckle.

The man’s hands were swinging loosely by his side, totally free of the dog’s lead which appeared to be attached to some hidden part of his shorts. To begin with I wasn’t quite sure why I was chuckling but something about this man and his dog, struck a chord.

As I continued my drive, I thought about the picture which was now etched in my mind. The man looked the epitome of laziness! Everything about him and the way he walked screamed, “I’m not using an ounce more energy than I have to today.” One could assume he was a lazy person but perhaps that wouldn't be fair. On any other day he may be a conscientious, hard working man, but today he was having a lazy day. It seemed he didn't even want to walk the dog. The dog in fact, was taking him (and his shorts) for a walk!

That thought led to another, as often happens, and I ended up at the most unexpected place. I found myself thinking about the things we are sometimes lazy about, the kinds of things that should never be associated with laziness - forgiving a wrong, showing gratitude, offering a kind word or helping someone in need. These build us and others up, and joy is often an unexpected bi-product, a good reason to be intentionally working at these things!

On the other hand, we would do well to be lazy when it comes to keeping a record of wrongs, hurting others with our words and engaging in gossip. Easy to do, these natural tendencies have nothing good to offer. Whether we are conscious of it or not, they tear down and destroy.

I suspect the word ‘laziness’ may continue to conjure in my mind, the image of a dog taking a man and his shorts for a walk. That’s a good thing because I need to be reminded often, that I should be in the business of building others up. 

I love to tell stories and I love to listen to others tell stories. I guess I just love stories. Recently a good friend told me a story I thought was worth sharing because it reminded me of something important, something I’ve known for a long time but keep forgetting. I’m sure my friend won’t mind. I’m not stealing her story, just borrowing it so I can share it with you!  

Over the Christmas break my friend and her husband took their two sons on a long and pretty ambitious camping trip. Lots of planning and preparation went into it. My friend is the queen of planning and preparation!!!  If I ever grow up, I want to be as good at planning and preparing as she is!

Their camping holiday saw them visit lots of interesting places and do some wonderful things together. Sitting in her kitchen, listening to her animated account, it sounded like a pretty amazing holiday, the sort of holiday they will remember forever!

My friend is a great story teller and I loved listening to her lively description of the highlights, picturing events that when strung together, made the ‘best holiday’. I chuckled as she described one event. It included a set of parents, two sons (one teenager and one almost-teenager), long hours together in a confined space (the car), in the middle of summer. It brought back a torrent of memories! Aaah the joy of travelling long distances in a car with teenagers!

Another event which will possibly sit forever in the memorable category was the night they encountered a storm.  With their pop-up camper trailer set up on a foreshore in South Australia, they retired to bed for the night. Around 3am my friend awoke to the deafening sound of almost 50kph winds. Lying in her bed, listening to the wind’s threatening howls, and separated from the chaos outside by a single layer of canvas, she began to worry. Checking current weather conditions and warnings on her mobile only served to fuel her concern.

Surrounded by her sleeping family, for two hours she lay in her bed checking half hourly weather updates and making contingency plans in her head, should they need to evacuate. Eventually at 5am she woke her husband and this is the part of her story that reminded me of something I already knew.

With her husband awake her anxiousness was relieved, so relieved that although the wind continued unabated, she went straight to sleep!

There was such a powerful message for me in that little chapter of her story! None of us travel far down life’s pathway without ample cause for worry. On some stretches of our journey, worry is a close companion, shadowing our every step. Then at other times we encounter ‘him’ but once in a while. No matter how often we meet ‘him’, there’s always the temptation to stop and entertain ‘him’.

That day in my friend’s kitchen I remembered again, what I’ve known for a long time, that nothing good comes from entertaining worry. One of the oldest books in history has this to say about the futility of worry, “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”

I find it interesting that as soon as my friend knew her husband was aware of the situation they were in, she was able to relax. It was as if she had passed her burden of worry to him and when he took it, she was released. It was this very notion that served as a reminder.

As I sat listening, I recalled trying times in my life when I have experienced the same freeing release as my friend felt, times of knowing that God was ‘awake’ and present in my storm, when I almost literally felt I was handing my burden of worry to Him. Words don’t do justice nor can they adequately describe, the almost unreal sense of freedom in the midst of turmoil.

However, here’s the strange part. Having had these powerful experiences, it seems strange that in times of trouble or difficulty, my default position is still so often to worry! I guess that’s why I need these little reminders. They bring me back to what I already know, that worrying serves not good purpose in my life. God is always ‘awake’ and present, even in my ‘storms’, and if I pass my burden of concern to Him, I will again experience that freedom and release. 

This morning I stumbled across something I wrote many years ago. It was written during those bumpy years of having teenage daughters in the house. I smiled as I read it, trying to remember what daily life was like all those years ago. I know it was a whole lot busier and noisier, but it was also fun and even exciting.

I didn’t write anything that resembled a blog back then, but I’m thankful that in many stages of my life I’ve tried to record what everyday life was like at the time.

As I reread my long-forgotten musings this morning, I was again reminded of a little piece of wisdom which I thought worth sharing.

When our first daughter was a very tiny baby, and I was a very new mum, someone said something that has remained with me ever since. I clearly remember the sweet, old lady and even where we stood as she shared her wisdom with me. Back then I don’t think I remembered it because it was one of those, “I-must-remember-this-because-it’s-important” kind of incidents. I think it was possibly because it fitted more into the, “What-a-whacky-thing-to-say-to-a-brand-new-mum” category. Whatever the reason, I remember exactly what she said. “Treasure every moment because before you know it, she’ll be walking down an aisle!”

It’s a little over thirty years ago that I was given that valuable piece of advice and today I was reminded again, the wealth of wisdom in those few words. We can get so accustomed to our familiar routines and the familiar faces that surround us, that they often slip away without us capturing their essence. It seems a tendency of the mind to only snatch and store memories that stand out, that are in some way different.

Two of my daughters have already walked down the aisle, tomorrow I’m babysitting my darling little grandson, and soon we will welcome another little one to our family. I’ve entered a new stage in my life. It doesn’t seem long ago that little ones were crawling around my legs and filling my days with busy activity!

So that dear, sweet old lady was right. Slowly familiar, everyday routines evolve and change, propelling us into another stage in our lives. My mother will be ninety two this year and I am keenly aware I may soon enter yet another stage. Amid everyday busyness, I need to be reminded to take time to spend with those I love and to tell them of my love, to take photos, to make and capture treasured memories for some time in the future when I will want to pull them out and savour their sweet perfume!

                                            One of the perks of this new stage in my life!

Early this afternoon I had an unnerving experience. Feeling a little off colour, I decided to have a short nap, hoping it would set me right before tackling my afternoon chores. Sitting on the edge of the bed, a feather-like sensation brushed my arm. Looking down, expecting to see a hair or thread, I could see nothing. Moving my arm again triggered the same sensation and I decided I must have intercepted a spider’s web.

I should probably tell you, spiders and I just don’t get on! I’ve never met a spider I wanted to get to know! I think I’m a fairly kind person but when I meet a spider I like to be dressed for the occasion. My dress should include a pair of shoes, either of which can be quickly and easily removed. Thongs are just perfect. I can whip one off, smack…no more spider! The only kind of spider I’m comfortable with is a DEAD spider!

So, back to my story…

Standing back from the bed I looked up. There, parked on the very white ceiling was a very black spider!! Oh my goodness, I especially hate these ones! They look so evil!

Being unable to reach the nasty little piece of work, I decided my best friend was a can of insect spray. Coming back into the bedroom armed with my new best friend, I reached across to aim the nozzle at the ceiling. However as I did, I must have disturbed the single web thread that first alerted me to the black menace above.

Before even a single burst of the deadly spray left the can, like a dead weight released from a great height, the spider dropped to the bed! A spider on the ceiling is one thing, but a spider on a bed…that’s just wrong!

I had a new dilemma…I didn't want to use insect spray on the bed linen but my loose-fitting footwear, although usually perfect for the task, wasn't quite right on this occasion. Looking at the white sheet, I decided it had to be a clean death.

After several attempts to eliminate the nasty little black menace, he retreated to the dark recesses between the bed and the wall, where he eventually met his demise.

It took several minutes to collect myself, and when I did, I had the chance to consider what might have happened had I not been alerted to the spider’s presence right above me. I calculated its landing place, had I been lying on the bed, would probably have been my neck.

After a little research into the consequences of such an encounter, I decided it was a very good thing I had not been laying on the bed. Although not generally aggressive, his painful bite could have lead to some nasty reactions including swelling, vomiting, breathing problems, nausea and giddiness.

As often happens when we experience a shock, albeit something as insignificant as my unpleasant encounter, we are prompted to think a little more deeply. This was my experience and I found myself wondering how often we avoid danger, how often we are diverted within seconds of disaster, but are totally unaware.

For some reason my pondering made a detour and I began thinking about the role parents play with their small children. When my girls were young I was constantly on the lookout for potential dangers - like pot handles sticking out from stove tops. On many occasions I removed my little ones from the threat of harm.

I got to wondering if that is exactly what happened to me this afternoon. Did my Heavenly Father alert me to the presence of the spider above me? With what I know of God, I am very comfortable with this notion.

I was made aware of today's black bedroom intruder but I wondered how often God does this very same thing and I am unaware. I am protected and totally oblivious; therefore there is no opportunity for gratitude. However, today’s little encounter offered plenty of opportunity for gratitude. I was very thankful for the warning and thankful for the reminder that my Heavenly Father is always watching over me…even when I encounter fury, black house spiders!

Sitting at a kitchen bench recently, a dear friend and I chatted over a cup of tea. Friends for years, and although separated in age by a decade, we often feel like kindred spirits - right now, more than ever because of our common circumstances. Both of us are teachers and neither has a job.

We talked about the emotions that often accompany a situation like ours, feelings of not being wanted, of feeling redundant, perhaps even pushed aside. We also talked about the distasteful ‘icing on the cake’ - not being able to do what we love to do - teach children. It’s not a comfortable place to be!

Perhaps because the kitchen is a place of meal preparation, I’m not sure, but as we chatted, an everyday image flashed across my mind, an image of a meal set before me.  It reminded me of something that had been tickling the edges of my thinking for days, so I shared it with my friend.

It seems to me that life comes in chapters or since we’re talking kitchens, it comes in courses - entre, main, dessert, coffee. Wandering down this pathway in my thinking, I imagine myself sitting at a dining table, the main course in front of me, and a selection of items on my plate. The food about to be consumed may be of the very finest culinary standard but if my attention and my focus are directed solely on the dessert to come, I’m robbing myself.

So then we chatted about the redeeming aspects of our present situation, things that are luxuries when we are time-poor. For me, it’s writing, gardening, reading, cooking for others and visiting with friends. For my friend, it’s having the opportunity to invest time in the many little extras that her family enjoys.

We all need things to look forward to, especially when life is dry or challenging. I guess we just need to be careful we are not robbing ourselves of delectable little treats from the plate right in front of us.