My Paisley Chair

It finally happened … my hand mixer bit the dust. In all fairness, it has been around for almost 30 years! I know the timeline because my previous hand mixer turned into a laser gun. Here’s how that happened.

Back in the day when small appliances, games or toys broke, David would cut off the plug and/or remove the power source from the item and give what was left to Aaron. He would also grant Aaron access to his toolbox. Amazingly, this would keep our little guy occupied literally for hours and sometimes even days. It’s no wonder Aaron can fix just about anything now – he has been taking things apart and putting them back together his whole life! 

One day while looking for something in the garage, Aaron came running in very concerned and issuing instructions to “Be SUPER careful in there. There’s a laser gun on the floor!” I recall seeing a combination of parts from my mixer, toaster and several other unrecognizable leftovers being scattered across the garage floor. The collection contained tools, screws, tape, and wires. Amid the collection of stuff was a talent for taking things apart, a vivid imagination, and an almost functional “ready to conquer the world’s worst enemies” laser gun. Creativity and talent were never lacking in the Hunt house!

I love it that some people are wired to understand, or born with a fascination to discover, how things work. That’s just not my story. I rather enjoy turning on a light switch and, bingo! There is light without my knowing how it works.

I have noticed that when things get torn apart, during the reassembly, something else seems to break down. One more reason I’m not likely to take things apart, is the fear that I may never get it put back together again. I relate more to Humpty Dumpty than I’d like to admit. I think I would have trouble getting myself back in one piece, and I know where my parts are supposed to connect.

With these things in mind, I find myself concerned about a thought process that has captured my attention: deconstructionism. Evidently, it is a popular “philosophical approach that challenges traditional assumptions about reality.” This may have a new wave of popularity, but truly there is nothing new under the sun. We should be encouraged towards the positive benefits of critical thinking; however, deconstruction takes a step further. While critical thinking encourages finding hidden meanings and validating claims, deconstruction attempts to expose contradictions and question perspectives that can undermine the stability of meaning (and truth) and erode the foundations of communication.

I am thankful for my spiritual heritage. It provided me with a secure foundation that I’ve been able to build upon. It is my responsibility to take what I’ve been given, build upon it, and pass it on. Spiritual deconstruction causes me this concern: Is it possible to restore belief structures, with its original intent intact once every aspect of a concept (or truth) is questioned and torn apart? I don’t have confidence in the structural integrity of things that are disassembled and reconstructed time and time again. This is why I won’t ride on carnival rides!

I’m still pondering this topic. But of one thing I am certain, the amazing laser on my garage floor was truthfully just parts of my mixer, toaster, tape, wire and a huge helping of imagination.