The fruits of their work
and the gifts we freely receive
On Sunday morning, I woke up early to cheer on my friends Mary and Sloane at Hyrox (the most insane feat of fitness I’ve ever witnessed). At about 7:30, I left my house to go pick up Starbucks for our group of cheerleaders. As I walked down the street, I was struck by the early-morning DC day (it was spring forward, so even fewer people were up than usual). I took particular notice of the workers arranging the Adirondack chairs and pressure-washing the fountain in Dupont Circle, in preparation for what promised to be a sunny day.
That evening, I was walking back through Dupont Circle and saw a joyful sight: people were sprawled in the Adirondack chairs across the lawn, and there was a Bachata group dancing away around the fountain — the fountain I had seen being so beautifully and intentionally cleaned up 12 hours earlier. It brought to mind a line from this week’s Gospel: “For here the saying is verified that ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap what you have not worked for; others have done the work, and you are sharing the fruits of their work.”
My life is the fruit of other people’s work – my parents, my grandparents, and their parents all worked hard to give me great opportunities, to receive a good education, to see the world, and to live my faith. I’ve been poured into by countless friends, mentors, and bosses who have taken time to teach me new things, encourage me, and call me higher. Even people whom I thought were making my life difficult in the moment made me better. My life is the fruit of other people’s investments in me.
Everything around me carries a similar story: my beautiful apartment has probably been occupied by countless people over its 100+ years, people who took care of the brick walls and the fireplace so that I can enjoy them today. Similarly, I’m grateful for the pilots who spent years training in school before shuttling me to and from Atlanta every single week for work. I’m grateful that the people around me care to do their jobs well so I can live my life safely, confidently, and freely. But I think that for the most part, I move through my life without recognizing how grateful I really can and should be for all the ways other people’s work makes my life possible.
To take it a step further, not only are the people in my life planting seeds that I get to benefit from, but also, how much more has God planted seeds in my life to delight me? He knows everything that my life entails and will entail. He knows my dreams, my desires, my hopes, and my fears — well before I do! I cannot begin to share all of the little gifts I have received from Him in His generosity, the seeds of which were planted far before I even knew to ask for their fruit.
This week, I finished Theo of Golden, and it was an absolutely gorgeous book, most of all because it is all about wonder. In the book, an old man arrives in a small town in Georgia and begins to bestow gifts and little kindnesses on the people who live there. The way that He sees people inspires me to see people with more charity, generosity, and magnanimity. I highly recommend it! It changed my life — and I’ve watched the sunset every day since :)
Two invitations for us this week: first, join me in spending a few minutes each day to be more aware of the gifts we have because others sowed the seeds. Thinking about how much had to happen just for us to be able to sip our morning coffee, join a Zoom meeting, or run into our friends on the street can be a blessing. Second, let’s think about how are we planting seeds that bloom in the lives of others (today or many days in the future). What little things can we do to make someone else’s life better? God‘s Providence is working, always — and we are active participants!
In Christ,
Jane
What I’m loving lately
Paris day
A few weeks ago, I was dreaming of a day in Paris and realized that I could experience many of my favorite Parisian things in my own backyard (DC, after all, was designed by a Frenchman)!! So on Saturday morning, I gathered my friends for a “Paris day” in DC — complete with neck scarves, an authentic Parisian cafe stop, and French Impressionism at the National Gallery of Art. One of the best surprises was walking through Georgetown and discovering that Sezane is returning to DC (iykyk!). We had so much fun — and I cannot wait to do it again! It was such a great reminder to be a tourist in my beautiful home. Tres chic!
Stations of the Cross
I finally attended my favorite Lenten devotion last Friday, and it was (as always) so good. Walking the Via Dolorosa with the Lord and in community is such a beautiful devotion that we’re lucky enough to have in many churches on Fridays! I highly recommend going this Lent if you haven’t yet. If you can’t find one (or it’s hard to make a good time), I recommend going to a church and using this version (it’s my favorite): Audio version and text version.
Lent, continued
I’ve been feeling a bit unmotivated this Lent, and was so inspired by the words of our pastor last week who said, “Lent is not a self-improvement project. It’s a transformation of the heart.” That was so encouraging for me to hear. If all I have to show at the end of this Lent is a heart that’s a little more fleshy, a little more devoted to God, then that’s enough!
This book was a joy from start to finish — I couldn’t put it down! It was a book that made me better while I was reading it. Touching, warm, funny, and a page-turner. A perfect book for Lent (or anytime, really!) If you read it, let me know what you think. All I want to do is talk about it with people!!
What would you say to a friend?
This weekend, I was chatting with a friend about feeling stuck in a certain situation, and she said, “If you were giving me advice about this, you know exactly what you would tell me to do.” Oof… she was right. I knew exactly what I would say to her — I just didn’t want to hear it myself!! It was good reminder to zoom out when I’m feeling stuck and treat myself like a good friend!
The joy of being warm
Last week I attended a work training in Florida and from the moment I stepped off the plane I was in HEAVEN. You cannot tell me that tropical air and a sea breeze is not medicinal. As my hair frizzed up, my heart grew many sizes. Summer is coming!! What a joy to be warm again.
Prayer intentions
For Joe Bear’s health and recovery and quick return home from the hospital
For a few special intentions