You guys have this figured out by now, right?
Everything has to do with spirituality. Spirituality–in my book–is not separate from the ordinary physical material mundane world. It dances with it. It provides perspective. But there’s no dividing line where we can say something is spiritual and something is not.
So what does today’s wood floor sanding and finishing have to do with spirituality? The worker (whose name is Jim) should be arriving imminently. He’ll cordon off our kitchen with lots of plastic. To better keep massive dust out of our little house in the woods.
I’m heading to the basement to get out of his way and socially distance. Not quite sure how long this little adventure will take so Ms. Computer and Missy iPad are joining in the fun. Barry says I shouldn’t dust the basement until after the sanding, so there’s not much more cleaning to do on our walkout level.
Have you looked at the photos of our house? Almost the entire kitchen has been moved, scooted, relocated to our main living room. The stove sits by the circular staircase. The table overlooks the deck. Our rolltop desk–which Barry crafted for me in college–rests at odd angles near the bedroom and closet doors. Our entire kitchen countertop decorates the desk behind the computer.
It’s really a mess, but an interesting mess. To see one’s furniture rearranged for the short term. To be able to fully clean under the stove and desk.
Jim just called–he won’t be here until almost 10. He couldn’t find us on Google. I gave explicit instructions. He should be able to discover us. Fingers crossed.
But you are still wondering: what does floor sanding and finishing have to do with spirituality?
If you look at our house from one stance you could say “what a mess”. It’s a true perspective. Nothing’s neat and tidy and in its proper spot. But it’s possible to shift our frame of reference and look at it from a more holistic level. From this larger point of view you see that the mess is temporary. It’s a deep-down cleaning and repairing mission that will eventually bring more order and beauty and enjoyment. You are seeing not only the current situation but also the potential of what’s happening.
Spirituality is often about shifting inner attitudes and positions from a very limited perspective into a wider knowing. It’s about cultivating the quiet inner witness that can see the larger picture. It’s about relaxing into being solely focused on one limited jigsaw puzzle piece–or softening the gaze upon the whole interconnected puzzle.
Much of the time–when we suffer–we’re focused on that singular puzzle piece. We’re fixated on our immediate needs, our beliefs, our emotions. We’re dead-set immersed in the spinning story of our thoughts. We’re trapped into trying to use the mind to fix our seemingly broken situation.
Spirituality is like an eagle flapping upwards from a large pine tree. Up, up, up she flies. Until she sees the panorama view of the entire landscape. Ahhh, it’s not just about the hungry belly and the fish flopping in the lake. It’s about ALL of this. The eagle sees for miles.
It’s like when our plane soars up above the gray clouds and sunlight breaks out everywhere. The sun always shone–we simply didn’t realize it from our perspective on earth.
What shifts our perspective beyond the immediate pain and suffering of the human realm? Sometimes this seems an impossible task. But the tools of meditation, prayer, silence, listening to music, dancing, walking in nature, connecting with the heart, reading inspirational words–all these can shift us from the cage of a limited perspective.
The witness of what’s appearing can sometimes merge with our now-softened hearts and we can see beyond the quicksand of our fear or confusion.
This is not an easy effortless task for most of us. We lose ourselves in suffering; we catch glimpses of peace/Holy/God/Spirit/Higher Self. But I believe it’s a practice worth cultivating, don’t you?
Day 41 of a seventy-five day journey to connect more deeply with God, Spirit, Holy, Love…to explore “What the Heart Knows” during the waning days of 2020.
Lake Superior Spirit 
Kathy, the “mess” is temporary. What a joy it’s going to be, having the work completed and a brand-new, clean, organized place to live! It’s rather like pruning, don’t you think? The tree might look pitiful for a time, but the next season will bring new growth and beauty.
What a lovely analogy, Debbie–pruning is another good example of this. Thank goodness the mess is temporary and our viewpoint can be larger than the transient. xoxo
Sanding the soul – I like that. I hope your feast was delicious yesterday, Kathy. Hopefully, you can avoid breathing the dust the next couple days. But, when the dust clears – a new beginning for the house in the woods. I like the thought of new beginnings, don’t you?
What a day of sanding, Barb! I actually could not stay in the basement because of the dust–ended up going for a brisk walk outside, then drove to town for a sandwich. I too love the idea of new beginnings!
All souls could use a good sanding once in awhile. I hope your kitchen floor project is going smoothly, yes it will make a mess, but you’ll be so happy when it’s finished!
The kitchen floor project is more than half done, although we won’t be able to move the stove back in until Sunday, darn it. The microwave can only do so much. Already happy with the way the floor looks, even though it only has one coat of stain.
Yes, it is a practice worth cultivating. It helps to have guidance, and not just spiritual, but earthly as well. So, thank you for that, Kathy. XOXO
Stacy, I am glad you appreciate the spiritual side of these things (as well as the earthly). I have drank up so much guidance over the years and am happy to pass some along. xoxo
I’m seeing a floor that was once new and vibrant – but over time coming drab, stale, and worn – so the sanding in the renewal – a cleansing of the outer surface to bring what was within to the surface to be seen. Just a thought.
Beautiful, Frank. Thank you! (You love analogy and metaphor too, don’t you?)
Thank you. ❤
You are welcome, Robin. Thank You.
Oh, this brought back such memories for me too, Kathy. We had our wooden floors re-sanded and repaired a few years ago. Oh. My. What a mess it made. We took down all the curtains and had to move all the furniture out into the garage… and fine dust seeped in everywhere and coated everything. For days, we couldn’t even sleep in the house because of the smell of the sealant. The smell permeated *everything*. We sought refuge in our little guest room in the back garden; that room too was packed with boxes and *stuff*. Getting into our kitchen for the inevitable items we needed and had forgotten to ‘rescue’ meant vaulting precariously over the countertop that divided the lounge/dining room from the kitchen. It was chaotic and disruptive of every single aspect of our daily life. BUT it only lasted a short time, and we loved the result. Hang in there, and hold onto the knowing that your home will be even more beautiful than it is already. I just know that your house is LOVING all this TLC! 😀
Reggie, you understand what we’re going through! Sounds like it was soooo challenging for you for days. Sorry to hear about the smell–we’ve had that before, but this time the finish was water-based satin and it didn’t smell too badly. Thank goodness! By the way, I took a couple sentences out of your comment here and inserted them in my post today. You may want to have a look sometime!
Awww, Kathy… I am so touched. Hugs hugs hugs!!!