For Sale: Baby Shoes (a Steve Orr Advent reflection)

Hemingway wrote a short story on a napkin to settle a bar bet ... supposedly.

Maybe that’s true, and maybe it’s not. The story goes like this: the bet was that Hemingway, known for his brevity in writing, could not write a compelling story in just six words. After a brief reflection, the author penned: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”

Poignant; heartbreaking even.

While not identical, the thoughts and images that flood our minds when we read Hemingway’s mini novel are almost certainly similar. We know about baby shoes. We understand what he means by “for sale.” And we can easily surmise the events that could lead to “never worn” ... all because we have a shared understanding of what those things might be.

I first came across Hemingway’s six-word novel in a wonderful little book titled, “Not Quite What I Was Planning." The folks at Smith Magazine collected six-word memoirs from people across the globe.

These short summaries include the humorous, like "Catholic girl. Jersey. It's all true,” comedian Tracey Morgan's self-description ("At the end of normal street"), and Janelle Brown's confession ("My second grade teacher was right"). There are commentaries on life ("It's like forever, only much shorter") and on its absurdities ("Time to start over again, again"). There is bathos ("We were our own Springer episode") and also pathos ("I still make coffee for two").

In reading this week's Lectionary passages, I found that some of those can be distilled into excellent six-word memoirs. For example: "Sowed in tears, reaped with joy" (Psalms) or "Gave a garland instead of ashes" (Isaiah). There’s "Filled the hungry with good things" (Luke) and "Gives thanks in all circumstances; still" (Thessalonians). Plus "My spirit rejoices; God my savior" (Luke) and "Came to testify to the light" (John).

The first week of Advent was about orientation (looking back and owning our true history, while looking forward in hope of salvation). Week two of Advent was about pausing (practicing patience while we wait upon the Lord). This third week of Advent is about declaration (proclaiming, to all who will hear, the imminent arrival of the Messiah, the Christ, the “light”).

We can proclaim the immediacy of a savior who has come and is coming again because we know that deep inside of all humankind is the same expectation. It is our shared understanding ... just waiting to hear that good news.


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A very different version of this reflection appeared in 2011 as “Not Quite What I Was Planning.”
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Photo Credit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/110452322/vintage-style-handmade-wool-blend-felt?utm_source=Pinterest&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_campaign=Share

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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
Third Sunday of Advent (December 17, 2017)

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Psalm 126 or Luke 1:46b-55
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28
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Friday mornings are a special time for us. We gather at the Waco “Egg and I” restaurant for Lectionary Breakfast, a time of prayer and scripture, and, yes: orientation, pause, and declaration. Meet with us at 8:00 for all of that plus some good food and laughter.

Blessings,
Steve