Sometimes a great notion …

Have you seen the 1970s movie Sometimes a Great Notion directed by Paul Newman, starring Paul Newman, Henry Fonda, and Lee Remick? It’s about a family of fiercely-independent Oregon loggers that struggle to keep the family business alive amidst changing times.

When I watched this movie, I was a senior in high school and I remember it dramatically changing my notion that lumber somehow just shows up in a lumber store. It was easy enough for me to buy a 2×4, but little did I know what it entailed—this piece of wood I could so easily and cheaply buy.

I try to remember there’s a untold story behind EVERYTHING I buy. Every time I buy ANYTHING, I try to give thanks for the privilege of doing so by asking myself, “what if I couldn’t buy this fork, this plate, this food, no matter the price?” Same thing for clothing. Would I be cooking over an open fire dressed in a loin cloth:)? How about all the human effort that goes into how we communicate—books, schools, TV, the internet?

I ran into our “phone guy” and his wife in town this past week. (He really does call his business The Phone Guy.) Randy has serviced my phone lines for as long as I can remember, something like 20 years. A few months ago, he sold us a new, complicated, expensive system (we have 26 phones in six different buildings) and then he disappeared as we struggled with all its quirks. He actually disappeared for three months!!! Where did he go during our time of need just when we needed him most? As it turns out, he spent three months living in a small, cramped, cold trailer, volunteering his time repairing phone lines in North Dakota—helping those whose lives had been turned upside down by the floods of 2011.

Another wake up all for me. Should I be grateful that I even HAVE a phone. You bet. So much for my notion that all my phone lines will work tomorrow and if they don’t, I’ll call the phone guy and they’ll be fixed simply because I’ve come to expect it and my customers call here 24/7 expecting us to answer. Another notion from my notion bag is now residing in my gratitude bag.