31 Days: Slowing Down to Rest

Have you ever noticed how worry and hurry seem to be joined at the hip?

When I’m worried that I’m going to be late, I hurry. When I’m worried that I won’t get everything done that needs to be done when it needs to be done, I hurry. When I’m worried that I’m not going to meet the expectations and timeframes of others, I hurry.

When I’m in a hurry I’m only interested in the destination. When I’m in a hurry I’m tight and tense. Everything about me is hurried. I walk faster, I talk faster, my breathing is shallower (if I remember to breathe at all – sometimes I catch myself holding my breath), my movements lose their coordination and I get clumsy. When I’m in a hurry I lose my patience and my tolerance for the slowness of others.

When I’m in a hurry I only notice what I need to get to where I’m going. When I’m in a hurry I become a person I don’t much like.

But when I choose to slow down, when I start to breathe again, I look around and I start to notice the things around me. The things that help me rest.

I notice the morning sunlight illuminating blossom petals in my garden.

I notice how the muscles in my legs move as I walk (a little slower). How the rhythm returns to my stride.

I notice the expressions on the faces of the people I meet.

I notice the floating duck silhouetted against the last blush of twilight on my way home from work.

I notice how the spring air is soft on my skin.

I notice the scent of flowers in the evening.

When I slow down, I hear God whispering and I realise that he’s been speaking to me all along.

In An Unhurried life, Alan Fadling writes, “When I found myself slowing down inside, the Lord seemed to say, ‘Don’t talk trust and live worry.’ … Jesus was inviting me to live with trust in him instead of worry.”

And that’s also the invitation of Jesus to me and to you. To slow down and walk with him, to live with trust in him instead of worry. The invitation to trust him is also an invitation to rest in him, to “learn the unforced rhythms of grace”.

This is Day 3 of The Rhythm of Rest series (Write 31 Days challenge).

Monthly Musings: Four things from August

It’s that time again – the end of another month. Before we get all excited about spring, here are some things from August that I want to share with you.

1.  From the reading list

One of the books I’ve been reading during August is Ed Cyzewski’s little e-book, Creating Space: the case for everyday creativity. Here are a couple of quotes that made it into my bullet journal:

You need to invest in your own creativity because it’s the way God designed you to fully live.

and

Tapping into your creativity isn’t about the finished product. It’s about the process – becoming who you were made to be.

2.  A new book from one of my favourite authors, Emily P. Freeman

I’ve been a fan of Emily’s blog and books for a few years now, and in August her latest book, Simply Tuesday: small moment living in a fast-paced world was released. I’m still reading the book, and will probably read it again to really absorb more of the goodness from Emily’s writing. There may be more to come on this is a future post. In the meantime check out Emily’s free video series to see what she’s talking about. And here is Emily’s podcast interview with Jeff Goins.

3.  Yummy food

This month I made pizza from scratch – dough, sauce and toppings – tomato, basil and bocconcini is simple and delicious. And then there’s Bracegirdles’ salted caramel dark hot chocolate – mmmmmmmm.

4.  An old-new way to slow down, de-stress and get creative

Did you know that adult colouring books are very popular at the moment? I hadn’t really noticed until I saw a display of them in an airport bookshop recently. I bought one and have been enjoying a little colouring each evening. Fun and relaxing, it’s a creative way to unwind.

Finding the answer between Yes and No

I don’t like saying “No” to a request. I don’t always like saying “Yes” either. But I do like to help, and I tend to reason that if I can do something, I should do it. Like the Optus commercials, I say “Yes” – a lot.

And once I’ve said “Yes” I’m committed. I need to follow through. I hate to let anyone down.

Photo Credit: photosan0 via Compfight cc

Here’s the thing with always saying “Yes.” I get really busy, I do more than I should, I end up doing a lot of things that other people should be doing, and the things that are really mine to do get pushed down the priority list.

Worse still I end up on the bottom of the priority list because I don’t look after myself.

Sooner or later, the smile fades, I get weary, stressed and resentful, and if I don’t do something to address it, I burn out. I know this because I’ve been there more times than I’d like to admit.

Confession time. I am a serial offender when it comes to over-committing. I over-commit, over and over again.

Sometimes I’m a slow learner.

Friends, family and colleagues have told me that I need to learn to say “No.” And that’s true. At least some of the time.

However, for those of us who find saying “No” difficult – for all kinds of reasons – it doesn’t always feel like helpful advice. We may just nod our head in agreement, and then carry on saying “Yes” because it seems easier and we don’t feel so guilty. Because saying “No” can feel selfish, even when it’s the wisest, most loving thing we can do.

Sometimes I discover that I’ve said “Yes” before I’ve even realised the full extent of the request, or considered my existing commitments and priorities. And the number of times I’ve immediately dropped what I’m doing to help a colleague with a request are countless.

Yep, when it comes to changing habits, I’m definitely a slow learner.

Of course there are also plenty of occasions when it’s good and right to say “Yes.”

One thing I have learned recently though, is that “Yes” and “No” are not the only answers available. Sometimes the best answer lies in between “No” and “Yes.”

“No, I’m sorry, I can’t do that, but here’s what I can do.”

Photo Credit: Valerian Gaudeau via Compfight cc

I’ve discovered that sometimes when I need to say “No” to a request, it doesn’t always need to be a flat-out no. I may be able to do part of what’s been asked, or even offer a different solution.

And that can be just as well received as an unqualified “Yes.” That’s good news for someone who finds it hard to say “No.”

Are you wrestling with how to respond to a request? Perhaps your best answer is somewhere in between Yes and No.

How to be blessed by missing the bus

 

Missed it by that much.

My bus home came and left without me. I hate that. I’d rather miss it by a lot, than see it but not be able to get to it in time.

I had a tight schedule but I heard a whisper in my spirit, “Don’t stress about it Ann, there’s time.” So I settled myself to wait the 15 minutes for the next one.

“Excuse me, but is this E1?”

“Yes” I replied, pointing to the large sign in front of us.

He was a polite young man with a broad smile and a thick accent, armed with a timetable and metro card, but not much idea how to use them.

It was swiftly apparent that this was his first time using our bus system. So we checked his timetable and I explained what he needed to do once he got on the bus.

There was enough time for what he needed, and then my bus arrived.

“God bless you,” he said. And as I climbed on the bus, I knew He had.

Too busy for the real gift?

It’s only two weeks until Christmas. If that thought makes you feel panicky inside chances are that the end-of-year busyness and all the preparations needed to make Christmas ‘perfect’ (or at least meet the family expectations) are taking their toll.

All the end-of-year events, the planning, the shopping, the decorations, the gift wrapping, and the cooking. In conversations about plans for Christmas I’ve been surprised by some of the responses. There’s so much to do, even thinking about it is exhausting, and they can hardly wait for Christmas to be over. Then there’ll be time for rest.

In the busy onslaught of Christmas preparations, do we miss the real significance? To celebrate the birth of Christ, the Prince of Peace. Ann-Maree Keefe has an insightful song called Busy. While it’s not specific to Christmas, I think it’s a timely message. In it she sings:

and the peace that was promised
held out as a gift
we run straight past it
for the door of a lift
and my heart is heavy
when I hear you say
you’re just too busy

What will you do with God’s gift of peace and grace as you come into this Christmas season?

Image sourced here.