A saltine and a peanut? I didn't get it. I didn't get it at all.
See, after church and lunch today, I had a plan. I needed to run to the library to return a book and then I needed to hurry home to paint the other three walls of my bathroom. Which I realize this is Sunday and all, but since I am under grace and the rest of my week is BUSY - painting walls is almost relaxing - and I needed to get it done.
But first the book. I had to return the book. See, last Sunday I went to the library and I got this quick pick book (or pick quick book or speed read book). I forget what the category is called, but when you get one of those books you have to return it in a week.
Which the friendly librarian explained to me. "This is a quick pick (pick quick/speed read) book and you need to have it back in seven days."
"Ok. I understand that."
"Seven days. That's all you have. Seven days is one week. You need to have it back less you get fined - that's seven days from today."
"Yes, I understand."
"That means that you need to have it back by ..."
"... next Sunday," I filled in for her.
"Because if you don't get it back within seven days which is a week, you will be charged a dollar a day."
"Gotcha."
So after that rather inane conversation, there was no way I wasn't showing up at the library today with the book (which I did read - actually in one day, but I was living dangerously by waiting until the seventh day to return it.) And I also thought a book on CD would help the painting go faster. (I listened to Winston Churchhill while painting the family room. I listened to the Worldview CDSwhile painting the office and some classic about a momma's boy who was in love with a high society lady while painting the dining room. Yeah, not exactly SURE WHY it's a classic, but supposedly everyone should read it. So I read it, but it would help if I could remember the name to impress any of my intellectual friends.)
So, I figured a quick run over to the library, a quick look at the books on CD and I'd be back in 20 minutes. Three hours work on the wall and I'd be done by five!
But when I got to the library, I was surprised to see the parking lot was crowded. Packed full, every space. I was puzzled. Did our town suddenly become a literary haven overnight? Was everyone reading quick pick books they needed to get back to day? Nothing made sense.
I grabbed my book and went up to the door and there was my answer - "Christmas Open House. Music will be playing. If you want quiet - go to another library." Seriously, that's what it said.
I returned my book and smiled smugly at the librarian. And then was appalled to find that a string ensemble was spread out in front of the audio books. Many people were sitting in rows in front of the string ensemble, although they weren't actually playing anything. They were however, sitting there in their tuxedos, chatting with each other. Wasn't sure how to handle that. "Excuse me, could you move your violin so I could reach those Irving Stone CDs?" Maybe ... maybe I would've done it if thirty people weren't in the audience watching.
Nah.
I searched for a book as little kids ran around clutching freshly-made crafts and adults stood in line to guess how many candies were in a jar. Behind the parenting books a friendly lady was showing kids how to put marshmallows and brown sugar into paper cones. Kids ran every which way trying to find "treasures" for a treasure hunt on a variety of Christmas trees. Very few people were actually looking at books. (But a lot were eating the cookies and drinking the punch.)
OK, I needed to get out of there and get home to my walls. But then I noticed this quiz for adults - it had to do with Christmas songs and had tons of squares with pictures in them. The prize gift basket looked interesting.
Yes, I could do that!
So I sat down at a table and quickly went through several boxes of clues. But a saltine and a peanut?
I was interrupted by a big announcement was made - a special appearance by a special guest!
You guessed it - Santa was hanging out at the library today. I wonder what his favorite book is? (Good thing he didn't need a audio book for his sleigh - those string people weren't moving.)
I looked at the sheet of squares. I looked at the CDs behind the chatting string trio. I looked at all the kids running around.
I needed to get home. Oh, well. I wouldn't win the gift basket anyhow. And my bathroom walls were still waiting.
I got in my car and headed west- an hour after I had gotten there.
As I was driving, I was thinking about how easy it is to get distracted.
Sometimes, like today, it didn't really matter because painting my walls is not all that important.
But other times - it does matter. We have a job to do. We have a lesson to prepare. We have an encouraging note to write. We have a world (or at least a neighbor) to reach with the gospel.
And instead we do everything but ... In Hebrews we read, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." We are to persevere. We are to make the effort to do what we need to do.
Still, when we do get distracted, we shouldn't get discouraged - but simply keep on, keeping on ... The Lord understands all about us - all about our easily-distracted selves. (Isn't that comforting to know He "gets us" with all our idiosyncrasies?) He's always willing to help us get back on track. How thankful I am for that!
(And to make up for the time I wasted at the library, trying to figure out what a peanut and a saltine had to do with anything - I'm putting this post on BOTH my blogs tonight.)
Duh! I get it!
A peanut and a saltine - THE NUTCRACKER!
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