FOR THE LOVE OF JUNK

SOME WOMEN DREAM OF BEAUTIFUL HOMES AND PERFECTION. SOME DREAM OF THE DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH, OUTCAST ITEMS, THE TATTERED, THE CRAZED, THE RUSTED AND SOMETIMES DISCARDED TREASURES. IM A MEMBER OF THE SECOND GROUP. I'M A JUNKER FOR LIFE!



Saturday, June 5, 2010

It is 12:12 AM Central Texas time, Sunday. I can't sleep, too much coffee and too much thinking. I want to share with you something that happened at the shop today. One of the pros about having a shop is the amount of nice and interesting people you get to meet. Then in between those sometimes you meet the ones you wish they will stay away. Today a couple stop by and when asked if they needed assistance the gentleman started to ask for prices in various old books collections I have. He described himself as a book and history worm. His body language was turning me off since I can tell he was used to get his way. I collect beautiful books and any kind of ephemera and I have a lot of very tattered, spine showing books which I considered for their decorative value. He was very prompt to let me know his opinion about my books. They were "ridiculously priced and in such an horrendous state" that he could not understand why I even bother with them. Well, even after complaining he proceeded to buy two of my books for 3.00 each. I tried to explain to him how mixed media artist, decorators and designers everywhere are finding beauty in the rustic, tattered, junky, rough items. I tried to explain to him about the beauty of a pile of book with no covers, only old pages with the spine showing. I tell you, looking at his face I can tell he was horrified by what I was describing. I told him I was aware of the fact that to a book collector what we do with papers this days is sacrilegious. I think that was  the only statement he fully agreed on. I thought I can do without the men business.
       Well, I take that back. I did noticed that he will take breaks sitting at every chair in the shop and that he was limping. Even though I didn't feel any kind of friendly manners coming from him I went ahead and asked him what was wrong with his leg. He was kind to share with me that he suffered from a degenerative condition and that he eventually will ended up in a wheelchair. I asked if there was any medical help he can get and he said no. Then he proceeded to laugh about it, a laugh that didn't make any sense to me. I don't know why but I felt compelled to share this with him, even when I could not get any kind of spiritual connection and though he might just put me off. Many years ago, 24, I fell from 18 feet during a training session. I was military and climbing poles was my job. I was expected to be medically discharge since I suffered a muscular-skeleton injury. The pain was the most excruciating pain, I couldn't even wear a belt or buttoned my uniform all the way. I was not supposed to be able to exercise or perform my duties as needed. I started to slowly exercise myself back to health against medical advise and surprised everybody by passing my physical test. The only thing was that I learn to live in pain, the kind that make you crawled out of bed. I learned to put my pain off and continue with life as usual. I was in a lot of medications for the pain but tossed them since they only doped me up and did nothing for the pain. Where I'm going with this? This is why I share this with him. I was not a believer then, didn't even asked God to heal me since I thought I can handle it with out Him. I was self sufficient and arrogant, didn't expect much from anybody, God included. Every morning I got used to turn and crawled out off bed, that was the routine and then the pain. One day, 2 years after getting married I woke up and just got up from bed, without crawling or rolling. I thought that was weird and didn't understand what  had just happened. I expected the pain to start, like every day, but it didn't. What did just happened? I expected to go to bed and wake up back to "normal" the next day, but I remain pain free, that was 22 years ago. This is where the gentleman comes back in the story. I did not get any kind of response from him, you know, some people don't like Jesus freaks. I added him up, packed his goods and send him off with the most tattered book he liked but will not purchased because of the condition it was. I told him to remember the crazy lady in the highway every time he saw that book. Well I thought I was done with him, but as I watched him trying to get into his car with much difficulty I felt the urge to go and knock at their window and said a last message to him.
               I wanted him and his wife to know that we are not without hope. That miracles do happen, everyday, to all people and with out any reasons. That God so chooses to  performs miracles sometimes because He is God and He can. I was not a christian, I was not praying for healing, I didn't knew God like I know Him today, I didn't even believe in miracles!. Somebody was praying for me though. I visited my mom 2 years prior to my healing and I remembered visiting her church and going with her during the altar call. I only did that to pleased her. When I told her about my healing (now I know is called that)  she told me she have been praying for me all that time. See...I offered to pray for him from today on and asked him to please come and tell me when he get his miracle. I can tell he thought I was insane, but guess what? I am, I am a Jesus freak, a God fanatic. I will be waiting, he will be back...
        GOD IS GOOD AND HE IS GOOD ALL THE TIME, NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. Blessings to you all, Marta.

8 comments:

Charlotte said...

You handled that situation with grace and dignity. I could not. I agree with you about the "self-healing". I suffered spinal damage three years ago and was almost paralyzed. Six months ago, I was still feeling sorry for myself and then I said "no more!"I started a diet to lose excess baggae and started walking (slowly at first) until now I can walk amost as fast as I did before my illness. I hope your visitor comes back and thanks you. The world needs more "Jesus freaks".

Terry Lee said...

marta, you're an awesome lady! thanks for the reminder to this cynic of life that there are still wonderful, loving folks out there ... like YOU.

you're an inspiration.

hugs,
terry lee

Garden Antqs Vintage said...

Marta, God will so reward you for witnessing to this man. I'm sure you had Christian music playing which witnessed even more to him. Great post!

Connie Eyberg Originals said...

Beautiful story. Connie

Debbie said...

Marta,
I am so glad you shared your story with this gentlemen through God's love. Im glad you told him you would be praying for his healing. Even if God chooses to heal him or not maybe he will discover God and the love he had for us by sending us his son Christ to die for our sins and prayerfully live a more peaceful life and encourage others like you did for him...A Jesus Freak

Tara said...

What a wonderful story. I hope the Lord finds his way into his heart.
As for the old ratty, coverless books, I'm right there with you!

SugarMoon said...

reading this, i can't help but think that when people are nasty, rude, flippant, there is so much going on under the surface that we cannot see. you have offered to pray for him, and he is blessed having crossed your path, whether he knows it or not. and for some reason, you needed him too... he came into your shop to give something to you, even if was a chance to practice selfless-ness and kindness. cheers! miss you! i'll call you when i'm in town!-- jess

oldflowers4me said...

you did well...im making a pot of jasmine tea..would you like a cup full.singing and skipping...jo