I loaded three cartons of eggs and three ice
blocks into our straight-out-of-the-eighties rolling cooler this morning. We inherited the cooler from a friend because she didn’t need it anymore and we didn’t want to spend $20 on a cooler
for eggs that might not sell. Once the
eggs were tucked in, I hauled the cooler out the front door
to the little farm stand in front of our house.
My husband built the stand, out of an old door and leftover lumber, at the end of June and we’ve kept it stocked with garden surplus ever since. The hope was to keep from wasting the abundance of our little corner of Eden and make some spare change in the process. We live on a fairly busy state road and I thought a farm stand would do well here.
This morning I was surprised to find a dollar sealed inside a
plastic bag at the stand. I had left the Ziploc bag
there with instructions for anyone who bought cherry tomatoes to “leave the
container,” implying (I thought) they could use the bag to corral the tomatoes. But someone bought
tomatoes and left the money – a crisp dollar bill – in the bag instead.
I’m happy to report that this new development doubled our year-to-date farm stand
income. That’s right, doubled it. As in, we’ve made two dollars over the course of a month. I quickly sent my
husband a text with the heady news and started dreaming of a spending spree . .
.
Not really.
But I did feel a small spark of hope, which is no small thing when most days I feel like abandoning the stand completely.
A few weeks back a woman stopped by the house
unannounced and asked whether the stand itself was for sale – she thought it
quite clever and said it would look amazing standing outside her store. I told her no, the stand isn’t for sale, but
took her number saying my husband could build her one of her own.
We’ve yet to call her back, but in the weeks since her visit
I’ve done the math – we could surely make more by selling the
stand itself than we hope to make keeping it stocked by the road all
summer long. I thought about that math this
morning as I loaded the eggs. Maybe we should just be done.
But then there was the dollar and when I came inside
carrying the overripe zucchini that didn’t sell, the tomatoes that aged beyond
use in the carton, I found myself sorting more tomatoes for the stand and wondering
what else I could set out. Even
now, I want to go cut fresh Zinnia bouquets to sell and gather some of our
just-picked violet potatoes into a carton too.
I feel foolish most days, tending the stand while cars speed
by. There is, for me, a naked
vulnerability in selling things along-side the road. And, minor income aside, that’s why I persist in
doing it.
When I become aware of feeling foolish and vulnerable my tendency is to want to draw back and hide. I’m not much of a risk taker by nature, not much of a let’s-see-what-happens kinda gal. But lately, when I feel foolish, some wisdom inside me awakens.
//
“Ah,” wisdom says, “what’s this?”
“I don’t want to cut flowers that won’t sell, don’t want to pack and haul eggs fifty feet to sit all day by the side of the road,” I snap.
“Why?” wisdom asks, curious and eager.
“It feels too much like waiting to be picked in gym class,” I say, “I don’t like the risk, the uncontrolled exposure. I feel foolish.”
“Oh, now that’s good,” wisdom says, fully awake now and delighted with my predicament, “that’s something we can work with.”
I don’t want to listen, but curious now, I do.
“This stand is giving you something invaluable,” wisdom continues after a moment of thought, “the opportunity to feel foolish.”
//
What wisdom knows is that things like hope and faithfulness often feel foolish. They aren’t, but they feel that way quite often. By practicing the ability to endure negative sensations, like foolishness or vulnerability, we forge a deep resilience that can translate to other areas of our lives as well, areas where the risk and reward are much greater.
Somehow I know that voice is right. I load the eggs, cut my lovely flowers, gather the red and orange tomatoes and offer them to the world. Not because I want to get rich, but because I want to be enriched.
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Author, Shawn Smucker and I are offering a one-day retreat this coming October 15 in Carlisle, PA. Titled, Writing As Witness, we will explore the ways writing can position us to witness the presence of God in our own lives and in the world. Visit link to learn more.
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Welcome to the #SmallWonder link-up.
What if we chose to deliberately look for small moments of wonder, the small sparks of presence, of delight or sorrow, of true humanity in which we meet God?
That’s my proposal – that we gather here each week to share one moment of Wonder from each of our days. You’re invited to link-up a brief post about a small moment of wonder. Don’t worry if your post is too long, too short, or not just right – you’re welcome to come as you are.
While you’re here, please do take a look around and encourage at least one other blogger with a comment. Thanks for being part of our community!
You've certainly captured all my hang-ups about being "out there."
By contrast, my kids used to load up a wagon full of whatever-we-were-growing-in-excess and just go door to door (known people of course) here on our road. They didn't care if people paid for it or not — because they had nothing tied up in it — and whatever they received in payment felt like a bundle to them! There's got to be a lesson in this for me somewhere.
Hoping you find your lesson, Michele and with it freedom. My kids are the same and you're right, it's so often not about what we're doing in particular but about what's wrapped up in it.
I love the stand and the story! The feeling of vulnerability is one of the hardest to wrestle to ground. As a writer, the same feeling shows up. Total exposure. Hang in there – one day you will no longer care and vulnerability will be squashed on the road with the cars whizzing by the beautiful farm stand. P.S. We will be buying eggs from you soon. Just let me know when you have a dozen available.
Yes, vulnerability and endurance. Thanks for the extra egg cartons – we're using them already!
I'm with Michele. You've definitely captured my hesitation to take many risks. I totally get the wondering if I would get picked in gym class. But I love how you help us see that being vulnerable actually helps strengthen our risk taking ability. As always, I loved reading your post. 🙂 Blessings!
Risk aversion – I wonder if that's common among writers? And yet it's such a risky pursuit – interesting . . . Thanks for being here, Gayle.
I'm relating here to your struggle with pride, Kelly. It keeps rearing its head in my life and I just want to be done with it. Alas. "There is, for me, a naked vulnerability in selling things along-side the road. And, minor income aside, that’s why I persist in doing it." I'm not literally selling things alongside the road, but I have other opportunities for naked vulnerability. I hope I'm as brave as you are in stepping into them.
Brave with a healthy side of gentleness and grace, Lisa. And love, always, not fear.
My, Kelly, you definitely made me think today. I do not believe it ever occurred to me before to persist in naked vulnerability before. I always try to get out of it somehow and breathe a sigh of relief when it is over …
I guess it'a a point of discernment, Jerralea, there definitely situations in which those feelings aren't helpful, but in this instance the stakes for me are very low, but the opportunity to learn and grow is great, so I persist.
Today's post is definitely a seat-squirmer, my friend. You've inspired me to listen to the voice of wisdom more closely, especially when she is speaking uncomfortable words. I wish your stand was in my corner of the world. I'd be a regular 🙂
Seat-squirmer – I like that. Uncomfortable words, yes, but always in a voice of love and freedom. Thanks for being here, June.
Oh I love this and I LOVE that you are doing this… I admit to passing by those road side stands from time to time – always with the intention of stopping next time! (It's usually along a windy country road in Oregon that is leading me to the beach… so my focus is to reach the waters' edge!) Still – I pray that Wisdom teaches you and that people stop and appreciate what offering you have and that you more than triple and quadruple your profit, yes – but also your investment!