Caregiving

This is one of the pieces from my sabbatical, an intentional period of time that I took to reflect and write about experiences of providing and receiving care in my personal life and professional life. 

Caregiving.
What does that mean? I mean really – what does it mean? I
give
care?
Like a present on a birthday. Here you go,
open it – it's “care.” I care.
No need to say what I care about. It may not even be you.
I care. In other words, I no longer say I don't care.

A friend of mine was told that she doesn't care by her 10 year old son.
What? What do you mean I don't care.
Well, mom – you always say - “go ahead, I don't care.”
What? Of course I care, she said.
But his reasoning was sound.
She did often say she did not care.
Can I go to the neighbor's to play? I don't care.
What do you want for dinner? I don't care.
Mom, can I bring this to school? I don't care.
What should I have for snack? I don't care.
Coke or Pepsi? I don't care.

And yet here is a gift, wrapped for you in colorful pastels. There is no bow
however. - I couldn't find a bow.
And no need for a card because I didn't think you would care.
Go ahead – open it. And as I smile watching you
you rip at the colors to find a box of “care.”
Thank you. You care.
Yes, I do.
No, it is not that.

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Caregiving. What does that mean? I mean really – what does it mean? I
give
care?
I give care, offering it up like I do with my weekly offering
in church. The plate is passed and I reach into my wallet, leafing
through to find that there is indeed cash in a cashless society. I
count out an appropriate amount and fold it as to hide my
amount of giving. When the plate is passed, I overt my eyes to the usher
but smile nonetheless when I give my care, grasping the plate
and pass it to my left,
again averting my eyes yet smiling.
I look down at my knees and then come back to reality
the piano is playing a haunting tune. Why haunting?
Why play something haunting while we are giving our cares?
Unless the music is taking them away.
I cast all my cares upon you. I lay all of my burdens down at your feet.
And anytime I don't know what to do, I will cast all my cares upon you.

Caregiving, carecasting...

Ah... it means casting care like a fly fisherman. A
long line with colorful plastic feathers at one end, attached to a
hook. Switch, switch, switch – the line floats over head
and with the flick of my wrist, I cast – switch.
The feathery hook barely touches the water – luring
the fish to the service with one question, “What was that?”
Looks like lunch.
Casting care. Care giving.
A rhythmic flow of the thin, barely noticeable line moving to and fro – arching and falling
like a giant bubble, like the ones we hope to create
while playing outside with our children.
Blowing bubbles, casting lines, casting care, caregiving.

---

Small blue plastic container labeled “bubble magic.” complete with a
tiny plastic magnifying glass looking tool.
Lift it out to discover it is not made of glass at all. - it is filled with soap.
Soap that when blown through will make bubbles.
Lots of tiny bubbles.
Sometimes streams of them. Sometimes
one big large one – if blown with patience and intention.

Stream of constant air pressure, the same pressure, the
right pressure – don't stop, if you do it will pop.
The bubble is growing and growing and growing and
then it pops.
Dip again, try again. Bubbles, lots of tiny bubbles.
All around, go collect them, catch them. Watch them wash your arms and legs,
one round spot at a time.
Giggles, playing, life is good.
When someone cares enough to blow bubbles
for us to catch.

I care. I give care. Yes, I give to another.
But my motivation is still mine. I cast care like a feathery hook,
I try to make right with the same patient intention with which
I attempt big bubbles.
Slowly, slowly, with consistent pressure.
Until it pops. It always pops.
Dip again, try again.
Cast again – lure the fish to the surface with your feathery hook.
Caring – for my own want for fixing. If I cast right, If I make the big bubble, then my care
will work its way to a better life for me as well as the recipient
of the gift of care. It is not a present just for you.

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