Mondays stink. This is especially so when you typically wash clothes on Sunday night but mid-washing, your machine breaks. I might add that my oven door is broke. I shouldn't, but I'll also add that I have a pantry- so full of gypsy moths that they've been given their own zip code. I can't deal with them currently. I'll extinguish them some day, but not today.

But here's the thing. Monday didn't stink, even though it had the markings of a rotten day. Hayden texted me around lunch saying he would go with me to the washateria to wash our clothes. It's funny how such a simple offering is a big deal. But it is. I love it when it's his idea to spend time with me. I grabbed two pints of Bluebell and a couple of those wooden spoon/sticks from the Helena Drive in and knew we had the makings of a good "date".

Sitting side by side, Hayden told me I looked like Rosie the Riveter. Clueless, I asked who that was. And as Hayden began to tell me, I knew that this whole "washateria trip" was meant to be.

Truth is, when he reminded me of her famous image, I thought to myself that I don't hold a candle to the 1941 poster woman, Rosie. I'm not the symbol of female empowerment. Most days I lack physical strength and Thomas the Engine's "I think I can" is a foreign concept. I have a list of the things I CAN'T.

But today I had a thought. Maybe even a good one.

For some, Rosie is an icon who represents the image of women who courageously replaced male workers during WWII. They blazed the trail for women of that generation and generations to follow. They worked tirelessly, dutifully and with strength in factories to produce war supplies.

But I think in the hum of the Speed Queen dryers I could hear Rosie whispering to me. She told me, that more than shattering the glass ceiling, we as women need to rise to the occasion.

I heard her say that the occasion is different every day. Some days "rising to the occasion" may mean cleaning that week old drip of Spaghettios off of your white cabinets, buying toilet paper or keeping calm in traffic. It may mean going to the same unexciting job you've had for twelve years, but with a new attitude.

Other days your occasion may be a quick trip to Dairy Queen with your daughter who's having friend problems. Your occasion might consist of listening to a history lesson given by your seventeen year old, on who Rosie the Riveter is. Your occasion may be going on that date with your husband that you've both been putting off because time and money are sparse. Don't miss the occasion to visit your lonely neighbor who just lost her husband. Your occasion isn't found out of reach (some glass ceiling overhead). It's in front of your nose. And though your daily occasion is seldom dazzling, it's important.

Rosie, in her red polka-dotted head rag, told me that my occasion may not look like hers or like those woman whose accomplishments seem to far exceed mine. Rosie told me that it didn't matter that the muscle in my bicep far from matches hers. She told me that the Rosie's of her generation were filling a need meant for them. She told me that there were  women at that time doing other work that was just as important as what they were doing in the factories.

She told me that purpose looks different for different people and reminded me that we as women often have the wrong view on "aspiring". She said that there's nothing wrong cultural-designed aspirations (being beautiful, fit and successful -with beautiful, fit and successful children) , but that often we're too busy thinking about that we wished we could do and be, and we miss the simple, yet important opportunity in front of us. (Or yet, we meet the occasion but remain disappointed for what we haven't done).

"Aspire to serve," she said.

Aspire to be different.

"Aspire to work at the little things", she told me.

Aspire to be unafraid.

Aspire to be content with where you are even if it's in the washateria.

Aspire to be strong; not the bulging bicep kind, but the strong that comes from a high place.

And then you will be able to slay dragons,………or at least that zip code of moths that await you in your pantry.

14-19 My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength....... Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.

20-21 God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.  Ephesians 3 (The Message)

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