Careless
I haven’t cleaned the cellar,
I forgot to sweep the stair
There’s a button off my jacket
my blue jeans have a tear.
There’s an old, arthritic lady
whom I should uphold in prayer.
But I’m sitting in the moonlight,
the moonlight, the moonlight,
adoring You by moonlight
As if I had no care.
4/16/79
Elizabeth Rooney
Elizabeth Rooney was a Wisconsin poet hailing from Blue Mounds. She was also a pray-er, servant, and lover of Jesus. This poem appeared in a collection called All Miracle Series…Morning song, Packages, Storing september, and Gift-Wrapped.
My friend Ellen, a gifted, brilliant, wildly funny, beautiful woman, introduced me to Elizabeth Rooney. Now, I introduce her to all of you.
What I love about Elizabeth Rooney is her ability to live in the present. The simpleness of the moment. And, to see Jesus in the regular and in the miraculous. (sometimes regularly miraculous or miraculously regular).
Elizabeth Rooney’s spiritual journey has been an encouragement to me. She worked at putting first things first. Love. Relationships. Beauty. Her art. Her Lord.
Adoring You in the moonlight, Jesus. Putting You first. Before the shoulds. Before the urgent. Before the needed and important even.
This summer I agreed to a July 31 book deadline for a collection of biographical profiles of women of note in Michigan history. Good, I thought, I’ll have time to take a class – a pre-req for grad school – I’m toying with the idea of going back for a Masters in Counseling. So, I signed up for a psych credit. No biggie.
Then, I received an offer of a wonderful writing project. Not only does it pay reasonably but it’s an ongoing project. And, it’s a chance to write about wonderful people doing wonderful things. I loved it. I needed some ongoing writing work. I’d actually been asking the Lord for some longer writing projects when, BINGO, this one fell in my lap.
So, I said yes.
Now, I’m swamped. Absolutely treading water as fast as I can. Writing all day, every day – and some evenings, too.
Enter Elizabeth Rooney, sitting on the stairs…..mending and cleaning and even intercession forgotten in the moment. The Now with Jesus. Forgotten in the sweetness of just being with Him. Just like Mary of Bethany. Choosing the better part. And, Jesus said that better part wouldn’t be taken from her.
Welcome to the moonlight, sisters. . Right here – in the dark and the moon and the quiet. With the laundry in the baskets, the kitchen floor gritty, with too much and too many crying out for our attention.
Come into the moonlight. Come, let us adore Him.
Adoring,
Julia