Houndwinding
I’ve spent the evening houndwinding. Thanks to Lisa Hendey, recent keynote speaker at the Gather in Faith women’s conference at St. John the Baptist Parish in Newburgh, I have increased my vocabulary to include this astute term. Hendey defines houndwinding as the song and dance one goes through before starting a task, like a dog circling its bed before settling in.
She described her ideal writing process: a warm cup of coffee, soothing music, a roaring fire (or semblance of one on a computer screen), and a block of time in which to work in this perfectly composed work space. In reality, she is working from airports, huddled over the nearest available charging station.
Hendey, as many of us do, lives amidst the chaos of being a working mom while trying to lead a prayerful life. In her book, “The Gift of Yes,” she explains the ripple effect that trying to find perfection can cause: “Striving for perfection in our work is a good thing. But when we do, we run the risks of comparing our work to the work of others and of measuring our accomplishments by only what we produce - the outcomes or end results. Maybe, as people of faith, we are to measure our accomplishments by the manner in which we work, nothing more.”
As she spoke of her faith and relationship with Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, Hendey used a quote from the Little Flower: “Without love, deeds, even the most brilliant, count as nothing.” She followed this with reflective questions for the audience to ponder. Are we doing our best today with what we have to offer? Are we loving and just? Are we working for God’s will to be done, and not just our own self-aggrandizement?
Is our desire to produce a perfect outcome keeping us from doing God’s work? I’m guilty of waiting for that perfect moment to begin. But if I’m being completely honest, I find a charge from putting off a task or assignment and letting adrenaline push me through during the wee hours of the night. To quote the talented creator of the cartoon Calvin and Hobbes, Bill Waterson, “You can't just turn on creativity like a faucet. You have to be in the right mood.
What mood is that?
Last-minute panic.”
Perhaps panic is too strong of a word, but I am feeling pressure.
At this point of the evening, there are no more excuses. The children are asleep, the dishes are done, and the house is quiet. My mind quiets itself and words start appearing on the page.The creative juices are flowing … until I hear footsteps creeping down the stairwell and a small blonde head appears around the corner asking for a snack. A cat scampers up on my lap, claws clicking across my keyboard. Text messages appear from a little sister who needs some advice. I listen because in this moment I hear God’s call to be present to those I love. And his message is received, loud and clear. The quest for the perfect article will have to continue another week.
