At a friend’s house, I took note of a beautiful cuckoo clock hanging on their family room wall.
“I grew up in a home with a cuckoo clock,” the host explained, “and I wanted my kids to enjoy one, too.”
I looked at my husband.
He looked at me.
“Do we still have it?” he asked.
“We sure do,” I answered.
Take Time to Warm Up to Old Talents
When we got home that night, I rummaged around the basement and found the small cardboard box housing our own small cuckoo clock. We bought it on our honeymoon when we passed through Germany and toted it all the way home in a carry-on bag.
We’d hung it in our old home, but took it down when our little kids found the dangling chains irresistible and would tug at them. It’s been in storage for years.
My husband tapped a nail into the wall and we hung it yesterday. We started up the pendulum and slowly turned the hands to mark the hour.
The little door flew open and the plastic bird poked out its head. He wheezed.
“Oh, phooey,” I complained. “It’s lost its song.”
“Well, it still ticks,” observed one of the girls.
To set the time, I had to work my way around the clock, so the bird got a lot of exercise. By the time I got to eleven o’clock, he started to utter a breathy khoo(pause)-khoo…(pause)-khoo…(pause)-khoo.
Later that night, I was standing near the clock when 10:00 p.m. rolled around.
Out popped the bird.
“Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo….”
“Hey! Hey, did you hear that?”
The rest of the family rushed to listen to his little song.
After years of neglect, he finally found his voice. He just needed to warm up and get some practice.
He must have puffed out whatever dust was holding him back. What a delightful moment, hearing the little bird come to life!
Resurrecting Your Forgotten Talents
The cuckoo made me think of a story I read recently. It was about a pastor who, after teaching the parable of the talents, entrusted each adult congregant with $50 and each child with $10. They were given seven weeks to double the amount, the proceeds going toward their missions program.
The article goes on to highlight story after story of people resurrecting dusty, forgotten gifts and talents in order to raise that money.
They invested their $50 in the supplies or materials needed, and then, drawing from old abilities, they built and sewed and cooked and created all kinds of objects and opportunities that they would never have thought of, had the pastor not issued that challenge.
As I read about those people, I wondered if I’ve stuffed away some old skills and abilities. I wonder if I’ve neglected some talents and with a little exercise, they could sing again?
Think Back, Revisit Old Skills, and Give It Time
I remembered how I used to enjoy baking bread. And I noticed a needlepoint project stuffed in a plastic storage box in the basement. And in another container sat a half-finished afghan I started to crochet years ago. Oh, and I saw my old clarinet case on the floor in the closet this week.
Maybe it’s time to reacquaint myself with some fingering charts or thread a needle and see what pattern I selected over a decade ago to stitch?
As I typed this, the cuckoo cheerily announced the hour. How happy to be out in the open, dusted and free to express itself!
I wonder if I would feel the same, were I to bring out the types of projects I used to enjoy?
Perhaps we all would enjoy revisiting old pleasures—just grab a dust rag and be prepared to wheeze while warming up.
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Loved this post.
Mary
Gosh, I don’t know about dusting off any old talents, but this makes me want to buy a cuckoo clock. I do have a collection of about nine aging German weather houses, but their forecasting days have long gone AND they don’t cuckoo.
Came here from Owlhaven. 🙂 I loved this post! My husband bought me piano lessons for Christmas. I haven’t had lessons in 17 years. I’m nervous, but looking forward to it! After reading your post, I’m a little less nervous and a little more excited to rediscover that love for the music that I once had. Thanks!
I came from Owlhaven, as well. My blog, which is almost 6 mos old now, is my own cuckoo (ahem… clock) story. I’m still wheezing and coughing, but being back in the world of writing after a 20-year hiatus has, in fact, made me immeasurably happy. Still, believe me, even when I’m happy, you don’t want to hear me sing! Hee hee.
I enjoyed this so much. I’m glad Mary highlighted it for everyone.
I found your blog after reading Owlhaven’s blog. 🙂 I appreciate your thoughts and reflections that come forth from you blog. Thank you for sharing. I’ll definitely book mark & visit often.
Abby
Aw, Ann! What a marvelous post. Thank you for the thoughtful reminder…
Another Owlhaven reader…what a great post, Dh and I have been talking a lot about talents that have gone by the wayside…
Talents by the wayside, let me think.
Counted Cross-Stitch (who was I kidding??), Dried floral arranging (what a doggone mess that made), scrapbooking (cough).
I have to say that blogging has made me rediscover my love of writing…it was long forgotten in the busyness of life. It really has been just like you describe, unearthing something out of a dusty box. I feel like I’m still in the wheezing stages, but maybe if I keep working my way around the clock I’ll find my voice, too.
This was great, as usual.
I am currently saving money to buy a flute.I have not played for YEARS!
Great post! Stopped in at Owlhaven’s request.
That was a courageous pastor.
As a former music teacher, I love all of the comments about people reacquainting themselves with old instruments!
I loved this entry. IT is interesting to ponder what skills we have put on the back burner. Our pastor gives away $1000 in $10 bills to our church each year to see if we can double it to feed the hungry. Normally folks come up with very creative ways and have made up to $5000. It is a fun event.
Blessings,
Dawn
An excellent reminder – I’m not musical, but I have to admit I haven’t done any counted cross stitch in a long time and I used to love it. I must find that last project and get restarted – I’ve been told I have a talent so I mustn’t hide it.
What a wonderful way to start the new year. Have a great one! Pamela
Must check out Owlhaven since so many of the comments linked from there. And I love your blog.
Another new reader, here via Owlhaven. 🙂
This is a beautiful post! What a great illustration. (And I love that a commenter said her pastor does something similar… I was wondering if that story was plausible, but I guess it is!)