Earlier this week, I read Mark Shriver's biography of his father, Sargent Shriver. (It was a very good book. But keep tissues nearby.)

In the book, he quotes President Bill Clinton's eulogy for his father. In it, he said something that's stuck with me throughout the week. Basically, it goes like this: Only two units of time really matter — the moment and eternity. Being totally present in each moment is the greatest gift we can give to the people around us. And the goal of everything we do is eternity.

So what does that have to say about everything I post here? To me, domesticity is about organizing your daily life so that you can make the most of those moments. If you keep up with things generally, you aren't stressed about bagging the chore list and going on a picnic on the first nice spring day. You can put aside the work when someone needs your help. But you can also really be present when you do domestic tasks. The repetitive nature of many household tasks (ironing, folding laundry, doing dishes, mopping) can be meditative and teach patience and humility. Things like paying bills and updating the family calendar help us to focus on our priorities and our values. Are we spending our time and money in ways that reflect the things we truly care about?

Why do we do the things we do? If it isn't about caring for others and helping to make their lives better or about bringing us closer to God, why bother? Now, I'm not suggesting that we go live on bread and water in a cave somewhere. You know I love my food. I often feel closest to God when I am in nature, thinking about the magnificence of creation and my small part in it.

Just something to think about in the second half of Lent as spring begins to arrive.