@bethvogt
I’ve had a wind chime hanging in my office for years.
I know, I know – wind chimes belong outside, not inside.
I found this wind chime at a craft show, fascinated by the crafter’s display. Two copper tubes, along with a thin piece of agate, are suspended from a piece of burnt wood retrieved from one of Colorado’s wildfires.
Intriguing, right?
I bought the wind chime because I was drawn to the artist’s creativity. How she saw past what the fire destroyed and transformed charred wood and copper, wire, and a thin piece of stone, into something that changes wind into music.
I’ve kept my wind chime protected in my office because, well, it’s so beautiful. I didn’t want weather – rain, wind, snow – to mar it.
Yesterday I ran across these words by Lori Hetten, a poet and artist: “As a general rule, very few things ought to be saved for later.”
I’ve never used my wind chime as it was meant to be used. I made a wrong choice. What’s a wind chime for if not to make music in all of the seasons? How much music have I missed in my misguided attempt to protect a work of art?
Yes, the artist made something beautiful … but she also made something functional. Something meant to sway in the breeze … something to be played by the wind.
My husband is hanging my wind chime outside our front door as I write this blog post – and yes, there’s a storm coming.
I’ll listen for the first notes of the songs it wants to sing to me … embrace the beauty … and anticipate all the melodies to come.
What about you? Is there something you’re saving for a special occasion? Keeping it wrapped up, boxed up, for some who-knows-when-it-will-happen day to come?
Might I suggest you consider using the china tea cups? The lace tablecloth? The heirloom vase? Treasure the special memories while making some of your own.
Choosing to Appreciate Now https://bit.ly/32RIEfJ #perspective #today Click To Tweet 'Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is the special occasion. Click To Tweet
Comments 9
Nice. Some storms have knocked my wind chimes to the ground and damaged them. I have a small one hanging outside in Mississippi but I also have a small one hanging inside for the same reason you did. It seems right for yours to be outside now. May it bring you beautiful music!
Author
Thank you, Dee. I know my wind chime may be damaged, but it seems right to hang it outside now. To use it, instead of protecting it. Life shouldn’t be about playing it safe.
I’ve got some Bud Light Orange
saved for the righteous day;
been keeping it in storage,
securely squirreled away
in case it gets real hard to find,
or worse, stops getting brewed;
that would make me lose my mind,
for then I would be scr…uh, you know.
But what, perchance, if I should die
afore I in joy partake?
It’d be less beer for Barb to buy
to offer at my wake,
and while altruism’s fine,
I think I’m gonna drink what’s mine.
Author
Andrew, I’m so glad we’re friends. Your perspective has broadened mine — for the better.
Cheers, my friend. Cheers.
Andrew, I always look forward to your posts and you never disappoint. Thank you!
I rarely save anything for another day…maybe my china, but I’m not a china-sort-of-person. I probably would have gotten a fan to blow on the chimes in the house. 🙂
Author
Now there’s a thought, Pat — a fan to blow on my chimes! The wind chime was hung near a window, but it is not the same as the freedom of being outdoors.
😍 Your experience hits a chord for me! After my divorce in 2000, I saved my carefully wrapped Woodstock wind chimes for the ‘right’ place. Where I lived, there wasn’t much wind activity…but I love the sound of wind chimes! Moving onto another job and location, it was still not a safe place to hang them, but instead. *I hung them in my room* as a declaration of hope of good things to come. It was a brutal time that required brutal faith.
Finally, after 8 yrs a clear download from the Lord came, and He unveiled his plan for me, “Move 2,400 miles from my home state!” Such joy and elation, to possess new direction! I am surrounded by the answer of a dream. Mountains to the east, water to the west, flora and fauna everywhere. Surprisingly, the schooling intended did not pan out. It was a crushing blow, to come face to face with fatigue and health issues instead of the prophesied path. But for now, the chimes finally hang on the back balcony. The hummers dance by, saying “Good Morning! Where’s my breakfast?” 😁 I don’t understand why my path was cut short, but I do trust that God will use what I ‘can’ give and make my steps according to His will. God bless you!💗
Author
Lilly: I’m thankful to hear that, despite the disappointments, you’ve hung your wind chimes and are enjoying their music and the sound of hummingbirds. Hummingbirds are special to me too — a reminder that God loves me. Yes, there’s a story there. I pray whenever you hear them that you are reminded that God sings a song of love over you.