This sign, a gift from our kids, hangs outside the door of our cabin.
Hey Friends,
On January 18th, I published the above article. I’ve found that when I pick a word for the year, it’s in my mind a lot. And God often takes me deeper into its meaning as the year progresses. That is true with my 2018 word, choose. Let me suggest if you missed the above post in January, that you read it first and then come back here.
Emily Freeman writes a monthly letter around the topic of creating space for your soul to breathe. Her words often do that for me. Recently she suggested four practical ideas that are helping me choose this year, and creating space for my soul to breathe.
- Choose your absence. For an extrovert who loves being with people, this one is hard. Bill and I have a small cabin in the Wet Mountains that we built for the purpose of going away and having a place to restore. We LOVE The Sanctuary! It definitely fills that purpose for us. But sometimes I drag my feet about getting there. It’s not the preparation that slows me down, it’s the missing what is happening at home that creates hesitation. Like last weekend, I needed to chose between a social event with our Sunday school class that I would totally enjoy but would leave me tired or going to The Sanctuary with Bill that I would also love and would leave me rested. In light of a two week ministry trip coming up, the absence I choose was the social event. It was a hard choice.
- Ignore with intention. The application of this practical step refers to my computer and cell phone. I’ve made two decisions that are helping. I’m working at closing down my computer for the night before dinner. Yup, no computer work in the evenings and extending my wind-down time for the day. Its been good, although sometimes after dinner I look around and wonder what to do. Bubble baths and light reading are good choices. And my cell phone has found a new resting place for the night not on my bedside table. As I roll over in the morning, the first thing to grab my attention is not the emails or texts or the weather or the news, it is thinking about my identity and reviewing the scriptures I’ve memorized about who God says I am, greatly loved.
- Find a ‘No’ mentor. That was an easy one. I needed to look no farther than my husband. Like you, there are many really good things that capture my attention. But really good things are not necessarily the best things. Earlier this spring we had three weeks at home between two ministry trips and had over-night guests nine of those days. The guests were gone, preparation for our next trip was happening, and I had an idea. I knew of a need. It sounded fairly easy to fill. I asked Bill what he thought. I didn’t need his words, his eyes communicated his wisdom. I remembered my own words, the need is not the call.
- Embrace my limits. Or know my capacity. Again opportunity often smacks up against reality. This summer Bill and I are spending three weeks in Florida with a Navigator collegiate program. We’ll live in a dorm (yes, you read correctly) with about 100 students. We’re there to be shepherds for the staff leading those students. We’ll love this time serving in our campus ministries. Three days after coming home, Bill will leave for Africa and a ministry assignment there. I have never been to Africa and it would be special to join him. But I know my capacity. I know it would not be a wise choice to join him on that trip. I’m embracing my limits.
One other practice I’m embracing is eliminating multi-tasking. Often touted as a way to expand time, for me multi-tasking compromises my best. Not good!
Because Bill and I are traveling the next two weeks, I decided to once again introduce you to other bloggers on Echoes of Grace and not try to multi-task. Their words have ministered peace to my heart and I trust they will to yours as well. I’ll return to Echoes on May 3 and look forward to connecting with you then.
“Plans are established by counsel;
by wise guidance wage war.”
Proverbs 20:18