In a church where we were teaching, this wee one was dragged in by a sister and plunked on the bench. She was not impressed. In fact, she later escaped out the back. The joy of a church with no walls or doors! Her garment was an artfully tied colorful cloth. When she stood, it came to her ankles. (When she showed up the next day, she was minus the garment! )
I think of situations where I felt constrained! Such as a very very long day at a funeral. To save time,we asked that there be no interpretation, so we had 6 hours of a language we don't know, and it wasn't Swahili! My clothes became irritating, the chair was bothersome, the day got hot.
Like this little girl, my face soon registered my discomfort. However, adulthood constrains us! Walls constrain us! Events constrain us!
In it all, I am learning to find a focus outside myself, and dwell on that. In the cases of being "trapped in a crowd" I focus on the faces. It is my guess that I am not the only uncomfortable one! I wonder about how their life is, and what is happening in it!
I focus on when it will be over. I imagine getting home to ice water in a glass, cool clothes on my back, my own beat up but comfortable chair, and oops, there I am , focusing back on me!
Children are self absorbed, and that is not where I want to spend my days.
It is so easy to spend my days thinking of me and my needs.
I really need to start the day and end the day with prayers and deeds that bless those around me. Even in funerals, or functions, I can focus on praying for those around me.
Unless of course, I am given the option of shedding all, and escaping out the back!
O Lord, let my life be a lot less thinking of me, and whole lot more focused on You!
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