Hubby knows how much I love leather-bound journals, flowery notebooks, datebooks, smooth-writing pens, and lead pencils—and not just any pencils, PaperMate lead pencils. So, imagine my joy when he surprised me with a special two-pack of the newest PaperMate pens. PaperMate…in a pen? A writer’s heaven. (Yes, in some ways, I’m pretty easy to please, especially when any or all of these things come tucked into a new purse I can play with.) It’s not that I have beautiful handwriting. It’s not even legible. To some it’s a lost art, but actually writing something down with my PaperMate pencil… Mmm-mmmm. Just ask the little people. They can tell you all about my reaction when I’ve discovered someone writing with one—that’s part of the unfinished, mushy side of me Jesus is still cooking.
Starting a journal for my new writers’ critique group presented just the special occasion I needed to write with my new pen. Eagerly I opened the pack, extracted a pen, studied it for a moment before pushing that button—ooh, the satisfying sound of the click!—and then put the pen to paper. I couldn’t wait to feel the ease of ink flowing onto paper.
But it seemed I’d have to do just that, because the darn thing wouldn’t write.
After inspecting it more carefully I noted a red tip over the nub, this tiny plastic bubble stopping up the flow of my magic ink. What in the world? I rubbed the paper. Nothing. So I rubbed harder. Still, nothing. I tapped the tip. Nope. Frustrated, I retrieved the original packaging, still nestling the second, untouched pen, and read the instructions: Step 1. Open the pack. Step 2. Pull off the protective tip.
Here’s my Jesus moment (you knew it was coming). I love PaperMate as much as…well, more than anybody…but really, come on. Who needs instructions to use a pen? It’s not that complicated. And that’s exactly what we do to our lives. We complicate friendships, marriages, schooling, politics, and even our worship with arbitrary rules, expectations, offenses, bias, and conditions. We take on too much, get too little rest, worry too much, and show too little faith—and then ask anybody who will listen, “Why is life so hard?”
Yes, life is hard, but the Lord made it simple how to live it: love Him, believe in Him, study His Word. And His instructions are clearly written by His blood.
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40
Thanks. I needed this.
I love a brand new notebook. I thought I was the only one. Click pens are my absolute favorite too.
Thanks for your post. I may use this little blurb to open my Sunday school lesson this morning. Have a beautiful Sunday.
I can identify with the love of a certain writing or drawing implement… for me it is the Pilot Precise Rolling Ball. Having simple and beautiful things like your journals or my pen.. help to slow me down to really look at my handwriting, or the Lord’s handwriting in a sunrise, a beautiful smile, the light and shadow in my house at 6pm. I’m going to be thinking about what you wrote about that simplicity… thank you,friend.
I’m glad that I’m not the only member of the “I’m not picky. I just know what I like.” club. 🙂 Let’s be board members!