Amy Lu's View

Renewal.

I immediately think of that word in a library context. Renewing books (and other materials) is big in the library world. It’s important to patrons (and they can get a little testy about it) and it’s been important to me as a patron, too.

I’ve been thinking about “renewal” because our church recently started a story-telling initiative and the theme for the first week was “renewal.”

We were asked these questions as story prompts:

• Have you had an experience that changed your perspective?
• Have you met someone that helped you find a new way being in the world?
• Did you find purpose after a struggle?
• Did finding renewal mean that you had to start something over?

I didn’t actually share a story, but I did think of times, big and small, where I experienced renewal: My current temporary job promotion. Climbing a hill in Scotland and thinking I was in mortal danger (I wasn’t) from blowing off the hill. Running a marathon. Loving and living with Chad. The feeling after I dye my hair. Adopting StanLee. Joining MSUS. Panicking when I’ve forgotten my lines and then getting back on track. Getting back into running after having to take an injury-necessitated hiatus. Ziplining in Costa Rica. Cleaning out the refrigerator. Every time I go to a funeral that is a real and honest celebration of the life of someone who was loved. Watching this year’s DNC Convention. Using the Babbel app to learn Spanish and intending to do it more. Waking up to a new day and going for a run and “vowing” to make better food and alcohol choices in the future. Virtual performances of playing drums or playing piano and singing and intending to practice more. Decluttering. Shaving my legs. Readjusting how I spend my time and energy because of COVID. Reconnecting with friends. Unloading the dishwasher.

Looking back at these examples, I’m both inspired and disheartened. In many ways, renewals for me don’t really seem to stick. Yet, I keep trying and I do make incremental “progress.”

Even my overly literal interepretation of “renewal” in the context of library materials gives me something to think about. I often renew materials as long as I can without ever actually looking at them until the very last possible moment–the day before they are due after repeated renewals.

The prefix “re” means again…a word infused with both hope and frustration. Saying “I will do this again (start again)!” can be desperate, exciting, tired, purposeful.

One thing I know: I will blog again.