A Word About Socks

I caught myself the other day talking to myself. Ever do that? I have a routine almost every morning that I follow. When my feet first hit the floor of the morning of a new day, like most folks I suppose, there’s the bathroom ritual, then the walk into the kitchen to make coffee. After that, for me it’s time to read my bible and think and write a bit. Then, time for my shower, getting dressed and facing the challenges that I haven’t experienced yet, but I’m positive are going to show up as the day unfolds.

Well, the other day I became aware that as I got dressed, I was talking to myself. Actually, I was putting on my socks. I sat on that little sofa we have at the foot of our bed, and as I put one of my socks on, I said aloud to myself, “I can do this. I only have to do this one more time.” That’s been a part of my morning ritual for a long time. “I can do this. I only have to do this one more time.” I guess that’s my way of trying to stay grounded in the reality that living life one day at a time is my only option. I might as well acknowledge it. Somehow, the ritual of putting on clean socks every morning provides me with that opportunity; a chance to take courage, take notice. No matter what difficulties the day may hold, no matter how stiff my back may feel, my challenge can only last 24 hours. No long day is longer than 24 hours. And so, the task at hand as I sit on that couch at the foot of our bed every morning is to place a clean sock on my freshly-showered foot, and tell myself again, “I can do this. I only have to do this one more time.”

Some mornings, the socks don’t seem to want to co-operate. You’d think, after all these years, I’d have mastered such a simple act. But there are days when my back is stiff, my reach is too short, and one or both of my feet have apparently decided to go independent or point in the wrong direction. After I catch that illusive foot, I whisper my liturgy to no one in particular: “I can do this. I only have to do it one more time.”

Why is it, I wonder that even  the small stuff that can make me feel like life is almost overwhelming? The weight of one more morning when my body aches or my soul is feeling particularly thin and the thought of doing it again tomorrow can feel overwhelming.

The Apostle Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.” But he’s also the guy who admitted, “I die daily.” I doubt that Paul wore socks. But I am quite confident that there were days when getting out of bed wasn’t easy. I wonder if he ever talked to himself and said, “I can do this. I only have to do it … one more time?” If you’ve had a challenge in recent weeks, I’d love to know about it. My email: kenjones@classicstateofmind.com