The Button Jar
By V. O'Reilly
It sat on the window sill behind the sewing machine. The clear glass
jar that once held gobs of creamy mayonnaise was given new life when
filled with hundreds of brand new, and slightly used, buttons. Buttons
of every color imaginable...large and small, thick and thin, round, oval,
oblong and square. Some had the look of fine jewels gleaming in the sunlight...shiny
gold and polished silver, sparkling rhinestones and elegant pearls...all
equally sharing the confines of this space. I'd lift the jar and turn
it end over end, then roll it over on its side. I was fascinated watching
these small pieces of plastic and metal tumbling and mixing together...looking
all the more beautiful falling into their kaleidoscopic designs. I wondered
what sorts of clothing they would be chosen to fasten...fancy party dresses
or school uniforms...clothes for play or clothes for work. I loved to
open the jar and pour them out into my hands, letting them sift through
my fingers to the table below. Each would make a different plinking sound
as it landed. And when they spilled out onto the table, they would scatter
and twirl, roll and bounce out in all directions, until I swept them
up into one pile...to create a lovely mosaic of shapes and colors and
textures.
Now, 30 years later, as I stand near the altar cantoring at Mass, I look out
at all of the shapes and colors and textures of the people present in the confines
of this church...the old and newborn...the large and small of stature...a mosaic
of nationalities...all equally sharing this space. And they spill out of the
pews to mix and mingle up the aisle to receive the loving touch of the One who
loves them equally and unconditionally...and to attach themselves securely to
this precious fabric of their faith.
We are the fasteners of our faith, collected in one place, at one time, to be
secured in our lives of parties and school, playtime and work, with the threads
of Word and Body and companionship. Then we are ready to pour out of the doors
and scatter in all directions...rolling, tumbling, bouncing and twirling out
to carry on with our lives and our duties in this kaleidoscopic world that is
ever mixing...ever changing...in the hope that we are fastened tightly to the
real fabric of our lives.
