Lessons from a Dismal School

If the year now gone taught us anything, it should have been how to value things. In a year that was divisive, pandemic, and electoral, the pretty baubles on some celebrity’s hand faded quickly. Who wore what on a red carpet disappeared, as we suddenly realized that food comes before fancy. In no particular order, here are some of the things that floated to the surface in our year of years.

Peace. I know a man who lives in a bucolic paradise. His nearest neighbors are horses. He has a long gravel drive that leads to an old farmhouse. But in a year that should have taught us the value of peace, he has none. He has chosen to be upset. His current Quixotic windmill is politics, but it could be anything. He just does not want to be at peace. The apostle Paul wrote, “…pray for rulers and for all who have authority. Pray for these leaders so that we can live quiet and peaceful lives…” Paul lived under Nero and prayed for him. He knew that every moment of peace you have is a blessing. If no one is breaking down the door, no one is doing donuts in the yard, no one is actually threatening you, enjoy it. You will have bad days when the plumbing opens up and shoots skyward, the neighbor is ranting on the doorstep, or the children are down with the flu. Enjoy peace.

The little things. Life has big moments, your wedding, your new car, your graduation, to name a few. But it also has little things of immense value. When I was a girl, my grandmother gave my sister a lovely filigreed silver ring. It held a clear crystal. It was big. Where Grandma came from, age had advantage. But, so as to not leave me out, she called me over and gave me a tiny stainless steel ring. She said when she lived near the Tennessee State Penitentiary (a story for another time), the men who worked in the metal shop were allowed to make and sell small things. They would set up on the lawn on Sundays and offer their wares. They had made my ring. I was young enough to be impressed enough to value that little ring. Eventually, I gave it to my daughter. She had it on one Sunday when a man from the congregation saw it. He said, “Heather, you aren’t going to believe this, but they used to make rings just like that at the Tennessee State Penitentiary!” My prim, church raised child said, “Fred, you aren’t going to believe this, but that’s where this came from!” It’s a little thing, but a child valued it enough to keep the story and the ring alive. Somewhere, you have a little thing. Enjoy it.

Friendship. We know we should value our friends. But this past year, when we could only value them from afar, should have taught us just how important they are. I have seen people set up two lawn chairs in our park so they could sit and talk. My best friend lives in Florida. I live in Indiana. Trips and face to face meetings have been few and far between. This year, she said she could see me on my birthday. I went to my husband and asked if he would be upset if I spent the day with her and my sister. He said, “It’s your birthday!” And he gave me the best present evah, as my granddaughter says, when he gave me the gift of endorsing a friendship of 61 years. He knew what it would mean. Know the value of friendship.

Help. Not help like someone to sweep your floors. You made the mess; you can clean it up. But help with necessary or important things. Our local burg has a Facebook group. And during the past year, people have used it to post needs. Food, clothing, birthday presents, lost money, utility bills, etc. And the need is usually met before I even see it. I remember one where a man needed a computer for his job. His was damaged beyond use. People offered him various PCs they had. But one man said, “Hey, buddy, I ordered you one. PM your address and I’ll bring it by tonight.” Another, on a different thread, was a woman saying if she $28.00, she would make it to payday. People now zap money over the internet in ways that are rather amazing, and she had her needs more than met. If you need help, ask. If you can help, it’s a wonderful thing to do. We learned this year to help.

There are many things we will remember from this rather dark and dismal school that was the year of the pandemic. But we saw everyone trying so hard to teach, to work from home, to communicate, to gather over internet connections, to live. If you want to pat yourself on the back for all you have been through, go ahead. And as soon as we can all get our shots and settle into our politics, we can pat each other on the back. It is well deserved for all of the lessons we have learned.