Just One Sock

     If you do laundry, then you are probably familiar with the missing-sock phenomenon. Right now there are 9 socks (I counted them!) sitting in my laundry basket wondering why they aren’t snuggly tucked away with their partner in a cozy drawer. I am as confused as they are because I have no idea where their partners are. I suspect there are a few lurking down behind teenager beds or maybe a couple of them have been unjustly mismatched with another sock. I assume that whenever we move we will find at least half of these absent socks, so I let the lonely socks sit in the basket and wait. There are times in life that feel like one-sock moments. I felt this way when I could not have children. It seemed like every woman in the world could have children except me. I felt like I was sitting in the one-sock pile. I have heard single adults describe one-sock feelings as they search for that elusive mate. Sometimes we feel one-socked in our spiritual journey. When will the door open? When will God set the wheels in motion? There are times that our whole lives feel like that buried sock at the bottom of the pile. Take courage one-sock people! The Master of the Universe knit you (Psalms 139:13-16), and He knows your name (Isaiah 43:1). So do not look around and let your heart be afraid, but look upward and let your faith fly! There are about 28,800 YouTube videos that come up on a ‘one sock craft’ search. Some really neat ideas! I am starting to envision these 9 solitary socks as snowmen, bunnies, puppets, dog toys, koala bears, pencil cases, flowers... thanks to YouTube creatives. Despite popular belief, single socks are not useless! They just need an open mind and a creative touch to be transformed into something useful and noteworthy. Today you might feel like that lonely sock, but start looking up because the Creator’s eye is fixed on you.

(Photo credit: By Scott Bauer - United States Department of Agriculture (link), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26970)

It's a Deep Subject

It's a Deep Subject

     Two men stood on the seashore. Both men stood in silence as they drank in the wondrous scenery. After five minutes, the man in the red shorts exclaimed with great enthusiasm, “I wonder what is beyond that horizon! How I wish I could just get in a boat and go find out!” The man in the blue shorts slowly turned his head to give a critical look at the source of such a disruptive outburst. After a few seconds, the man in the blue shorts said slowly and steadily, “I was just wondering what is down at the bottom of that ocean - I mean the very bottom. I bet there are things down there that no one has ever seen before.” The expressive man in the red shorts shot him a rather odd look; some might say it was even a bit degrading. “You want to go to the bottom of the ocean? You mean just go straight down for miles into that dark, cold, deep water?” Suddenly, the man in the blue shorts became slightly animated and said, “Yes! Exactly! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to explore that depth and discover all the beautiful and odd things it contains?” The man in the red shorts took a step back at the unexpected excitement he felt coming from the man. Mr. Red Shorts wasn’t quite sure if Mr. Blue Shorts was dropped as a baby, or if he simply had no life. He was genuinely surprised to see a wedding ring on his finger, and immediately felt sorry for what must be a poor, bored-to-death spouse. “Well, good luck with that,” he said to the now dreamy-eyed man, “I’m thinking that I’m going to rent a huge boat, get all my friends together, and see how far we can go out into that ocean!” “Well,” started Mr. Want-To-Be Diver, “first you need to consult the Coast Guard, then you need to make sure you have the right vessel, then you need to…” “Oh, I’ve got people for those insignificant details,” interrupted Mr. Red Shorts, “what I am really hoping is that I can get the CEO at my new job to join us. I just know I could make a good impression on her when she sees how bold and adventurous I am! Her name is Ella B. Introvert, and I plan to invite her!” Now it was Mr. Blue Short’s turn to give this ultra-confident guy a strange look. “Ella B. Introvert is her name?” he asked. “Yes,” replied Mr. Red Shorts, “and I expect her to be awed by my out-of-the-box style.” Mr. Blue Shorts turned his head to look out over the azure expanse. “So you must be Mr. Extrovert?” Mr. Blue Shorts said slowly, “I’ve heard all about you.” “Wh-What? How did you know my name??” demanded Mr. Extrovert, “I’ve never met you!” “Well, apparently you have met my wife,” stated Mr. Blue Shorts rather smugly, “because her name is Ella B. Introvert!” For one of the few times in his life, Mr. Extrovert was at a loss for words. Mr. Introvert gave him a friendly pat on the back. “Don’t worry, Mr. Extrovert, my wife is already impressed with your forward thinking at the company.” “Oh, thank you,” answered Mr. Extrovert rather awkwardly. “And don’t worry about renting that boat,” added Mr. Introvert, “you can use one of ours.”