A simple life includes bare feet and dragons

By Mary Regina Morrell
© Catholic Online 2005

"A tranquil mind gives life to the body . . . " Proverbs 14:30

It has been several years since I have been able to visit the Outer Banks of North Carolina but the memories of vacations there always seem to surface when life gets a little out of control.

One of my favorite memories is a small book store in the town of Buxton. Set in a charming old house whose property stretches back to the placid waters of the Pamlico Sound, the ambiance of the place is captured in a quaint hand painted sign that hangs near the front door. "Welcome -- bathing suits, wet suits, waders, barefoot children of all ages and small dragons."

It is customary to enter barefoot, fresh from the ocean, or with a towel wrapped around a damp bathing suit. Ledger sheets are still maintained by hand and browsers are likely to sense the pride the island takes in its local authors, photographers and cooks, whose books hold a prominent spot in the front of the store.

There is a magic about the place that stems from nothing more than pure simplicity, but no matter how I tried to bring that magic home with me it seemed to disappear the moment I got in the door and faced the mountains of paperwork that needed to be uncovered. Often the same is still true today.

It is not long before the serenity of vacation begins to be replaced by an invasive sense of urgency that seems to pervade every aspect of our daily lives. It reappears in the guise of payment due dates, the flashing light of the answering machine and the myriad of responsibilities and deadlines that define work and home.

And then there's the commute.

There is no doubt that modern advances in engineering are, for the most part, a blessing, but sometimes I feel more suited to a job at NASA than a diocesan employee.

Just getting in my car in the morning to drive to work seems like a clip from a modern space saga.

Seatbelts? Check. Car phone? Check. Adjust steering wheel? Check. Readjust seat? Check. CD loaded? Check. Mirrors? Check.

By the time I'm ready to put the car in drive I expect to hear a voice say, "Houston, we have lift-off!" And as I join in the morning marathon race, I'm convinced that some drivers really believe their cars are driven by rocket fuel!

Today I find myself wondering more and more, "What's happened to the simplicity of life?" Oh, I suppose every century had its draw backs. I mean, who wouldn't agree that indoor plumbing is a boon to mankind! But now it's not enough to have a "privy" in the house. It has to be a modern oasis of luxury; a vacation retreat where one can close the door and escape from the stresses of modern-day life.

What great-grandparent wouldn't chuckle at the idea of vacationing in the out house! In all honesty, I do appreciate the many amenities with which I have been privileged, but I also believe, as a society, we have sacrificed a lot to maintain our standard of living. Serenity, simplicity and basic good humor seem to be in short stead today.

If picking up and moving to some "Brigadoon" in the mist isn't an option, there is one sure way to bring a measure of serenity to life -- prayer.

At the ocean, so mindful of the glory of God, prayer may seem effortless, with each breath, each thought, an offering of thanks. Once home, prayer often requires more conscious effort as it is squeezed into a time slot.

But no matter how we pray, the moment of prayer is the supreme moment of simplicity when we untie our earthly tethers and incline our hearts toward God. Prayer refreshes. It nurtures joy and keeps us focused on the really important things of life.

Prayer is a much needed respite for the contemporary soul -- especially for those of us more accustomed to seeing store entrance signs that read: No shoes, no shirt, no service.

Give me small dragons any day.

Contact

Diocese of Metuchen
http://www.diometuchen.org NJ, US
Mary Regina Morrell - Associate Director, Office of Religious Education, 732 562.1990

Email

mmorrell@diometuchen.org

Keywords

simple, dragons, tranquility, prayer

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