Am I a complete bore if I don’t have a Bucket List? I usually like to keep “current” and be “relevant” (it’s very relevant to be current, you know) but one bandwagon I haven’t jumped on is the formation of my so-called “Bucket List.” I just can’t think of anything I want to do, or place I’d want to visit so badly that I’d consider it “bucket-list-able.” Perhaps that does make me a bore. God knows I’m not the adventure-seeking sort. Honestly, I had to talk myself into going to Target today; I was perfectly content to stay home. Rock-climbing, sky-diving, mountain-conquering . . . . (but what happens if you need to go to the bathroom? Huh? Does anyone think about that? I do, people, I do!) I get dizzy just watching people doing those things on TV! (OK, sometimes I simply get dizzy walking from one room to another.) No, I was not cut out to be adventurous. (Though I did dye my hair really, really blonde once. Crazy stuff.)
And I just don’t have a great desire to “see the world,” though I have nothing against the world, generally speaking. In fact, I really like to watch Rick Steves on TV, jaunting all over the place and visiting those “out-of-the-way” places all the ordinary tourists would never in a million years know about! Oh Rick, how do you know so much about where to get the best cepelinai in Lithuania?? What could Rick Steves possibly have on HIS bucket list?? Travel to outer space?? Or has he done that already? How much do you wanna bet he knows where to get the best moonrocks? C’mon, you know he does!
When my kids were little, one of their favorite books was “The Story of Ferdinand” by Munro Leaf. (Come to think of it, it might have just been one of my favorites, actually.) While all the other young bulls ran around and butted their heads together (see, this does NOT sound fun to me) Ferdinand liked to “sit just quietly and smell the flowers.” I’m with you, Ferdinand. Make some space for me under that cork tree!
Maybe it’s because I know I’m living a really, really, really blessed life already. I have a wonderful, loving, hard-working husband. I have three grown kids that are my favorite people on the planet. I have two granddaughters that bring me so much joy and another grandbaby on the way! I live in a very comfortable house and really want for nothing. I’m healthy. And friends! I’ve got the most amazing friends coming out of my ears! (Figuratively speaking, of course) To cap that all off, I know that God loves me (despite my boring ways) and I’ll get to see Him face to face some day when this wonderful life is over! (Let me point out that I would like to hang out on earth for as long as possible, but I know when it’s my time to go, I’ve got a pretty cool place to go to.)
A verse that hit me square in the face many years ago was this one: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (Philippians 4:11) Did I pray that one a little too much over the years? Shouldn’t I want to go to the grocery store when there’s nothing for dinner in the house? Nah – I’ll go tomorrow.
I have been “not content with my circumstances” plenty of times (ungrateful punk that I can be – thanks, Christi, for the word “punk”). It’s not a good place to be. The weather there is always cloudy and everyone that lives there has a perpetual stomach ache. Everybody wants what someone else has and by everybody, I mean “me.” I’d rather not live there again. I do go there from time to time, still, but prefer to see it in my rear view mirror than through the windshield.
So please don’t forget to send me a postcard when you’re off on your adventures! I really do love hearing about them! And seeing the pictures! I’ll just be here, sitting quietly and smelling the flowers. Me & Ferdy.
