Spiritual Possibilities
Keep Your Fork
A chain email circulating around these days tells the story of a woman planning her own funeral. In her directions to the undertaker, she mandates that her right hand hold a fork. When the inquisitivemortician asks why, she answers, "My mother always said to 'Keep Your Fork,' so I'm going to do just that!"
Those oft-told cliches and truisms from childhood and culture provide practical as well asspiritual advice for both the moment and the rest of our lives. Our interpretation of them provides colorful insight as well as acknowledgment that those who cared about us as children had our best interests in mind.
Good Things Come In Small Packages
As children, we associated small packages with gifts of little value. The larger the wrapped box, the more desirable - or so we thought. Anticipating gifts at both Christmas and birthdays, as children we wondered andimagined what the large packages held inside for us. We shook the box, listened intently as the contents shuffled around. If no sound arose, we assumed the package contained clothing - a safe yet disappointingassumption if we really wanted toys. Depending on the rattle or noise inside we guessed with minimal points of reference for such a young age, yet happily speculated what treasures lie within.
Just as our parents cajoled, "Good things come in small packages," the Universe presents its treasures to us not only in the grandiosity of the planet and stars, but in precious little gifts, as well.A sparkling example of a tiny earthly treasure, a diamond is the result of years of perfectly compressed carbon atoms, and is one of nature's strongest bonds and hardest materials. More personally, our parentsreferred to their children as the small packages in which the priceless gift resided, further affirming our value and their love for us.
As we move through life when we meet others, we attempt to get to know oneanother by listening to what they say and who they are (proverbially shaking the box), before making assumptions based on outward appearances.
Save Room For Dessert
Hand in hand with "don't spoil your dinner," many of life's colloquialisms revolve around food.Our parents reminded us life didn't consist of solely the main course and that other things more desirable things were on our plate for later on. They taught us to pace ourselves, to plan ahead and to lookforward knowing fully that better things awaited us. Always saving room in our soon-to-be-filled tummies for the sweetest part of the meal, we learned that all of life offers us a delectable reward we need onlyto know it exists and to make room for it in our lives.
Life offers us countless depictions of holding a space for good. When we are joyful and happy and fulfilled, we can't imagine any more good could come to us. (Many of us doubt we deserve more good, butthat's another issue entirely!) Alternatively, when we experience fear, anger and resentment, we can't imagine there is any good that could come our way! Nonetheless, if we allow for the probability of a"cherry on top" of life's dessert, we hold a space for the spiritual possibility and invitation for life to serve us even more.
Keep Your Fork
Just as the woman planning her final ceremony, as children we heard, "keep your fork" at the dinner table. Looking back, the practical direction often meant there weren't two sets of silverware to go around,so in order to eat dessert without having to wait for the first set of flatware to be washed, you should keep your fork. It also indicated that dessert was a fork-event. Unlike a spoon event (ice cream or pudding)a fork usually meant cake or pie or something baked. So many unsaid interpretations of "keep your fork" ran through our minds and we ultimately knew it meant good things were imminent!
Copyright © 2011 Marlene Buffa
Taking a quiet sideways glance at life, Marlene offers insight through her words from experiences. A student of new-thought teachings, Marlene finds practical spirituality around every corner and seeks wisdom through observation of life's inter-relationships.
Sometimes playful, sometimes poignant, always thought-provoking, her writing inspires readers in meaningful ways. Be sure to visit her website: www.wordsofmind.com
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