Unfinished Objects
“Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.” —Romans 13:8
Stacks of colorful blocks filled the table. Shapes that were cut, stitched, and pinned together, but never finished off into a quilt. The remainders of someone’s unfulfilled project. Barbara’s “Just Sew Vintage” was the vendor next to our booth at a regional quilt show. Along with the unfinished objects (UFOs), she sold vintage fabrics. I was a bit nostalgic fingering someone’s unrealized handiwork from years past. All that work, yet here it sits, still needing to be quilted together so it can be treasured and used.
A few of my favorite things to do in the hour before the show opens is to browse the vendors and admire the lovely, finished quilts hanging up on display. One area of the room exhibited finished quilts while the vendor’s booth offered pieces that were unclaimed and incomplete. The parade of beauties was quite a contrast to Barbara’s collection of UFOs.
The partially completed blocks sat on the counters, showing the beautiful work of their creators, but years later still just pieces. To be fair, some of Barbara’s UFOs were caused by illness or hands quieted by eternity. Years ago, I cleaned out my mother-in-law’s quilting room with my delightful friend Amy. As we worked, we uncovered two unfinished baby quilts that Priscilla had started for the Aldersgate Quilters’ charity to hospitals. Sorting through her stash, we located all the fabrics, pieces, and patterns needed to complete them. Bundling them up, I gave them to her guild to finish off her incomplete infant quilts.
Uncovering her UFOs makes me think about my unfinished tasks. I too have nagging projects that sit until I have the time or the desire to finish them. I am reminded of the Apostle Paul’s words in the Book of Romans, that tell me that the only debt (or UFO) I should possess is love. In a sense, that is what I found in Priscilla’s workroom. Her UFOs were a gift of love to the parents and children who would receive them. A reminder that someone cared enough to reach out to them in the presentation of a quilt. She reflected Paul’s words as she was busy until she could not keep going on. Her started UFOs of love were handed over to others to finish. She kept the debt of love going forward because loving others is something that is never complete. When Priscilla was in hospice, she was given a quilt that a different guild created for terminal patients. A sweet reminder of God’s cycle of the debt of love, one that is never completed. He loved, so he gave us Jesus, and because of Him we too can love others.
Jesus, as I get busy with all the things pressing in on my life, help me to remember to cherish those you place around me. I want my life to leave behind the UFO of your love as I strive to show your deep compassion and kindness to those around me. May your lovingkindness always go forward, drawing others to you.