Taking a Deep Breath

As this week has rolled along, I've found myself looking forward to Sunday. Before I began reading "Breathe, Creating Space for God in a Hectic Life" by Keri Wyatt Kent, Sunday was just another day of a seven day work week. And I don't even have a job! We attend church on Saturday nights, so Sunday often was started with getting up early to pay bills, or do deskwork, then laundry, some yardwork, errands, etc. It was rare that I'd just 'Be', in any form.

Knowing Sunday was coming up, I found myself using my time differently. I wasted less time, knowing it would be harder to set aside a day if I hadn't done what I was supposed to do, the other six.

When I really, really didn't want to paint the kitchen ceiling, I stopped and prayed for God to help me do it to honor him. When I got out the leaf blower and cleaned up the lawn mid-week, I knew it would make it easier to not deal with leaves on Sunday.

Finally, when I came home Saturday afternoon, to a week-weary husband, who really didn't want to deal with the leaves, again, I encouraged him that if we just did it and got it over with, we'd be able to spend Sunday relaxing and resting. As I type the lawn is clear of the neighbor's oak leaves. It won't last days, but it will last through tomorrow.

Knowing the gift of Sunday was sitting out there waiting, I used my days better, and being weary each day from working hard sent me to bed earlier, to get the rest I needed.

A few quotes here, from this book I'm so enjoying:

"Sorting out and becoming aware of your motives, of what drives you, is a necessary step to slowing down your life."

"Ruthlessly eliminate hurry."

"The problem is if you've gotten in the habit of doing too much, you can't eliminate hurry in a hurry. You're going to have to approach change deliberately but slowly." (I love that, you don't even hurry to eliminate hurry!)

"The trouble with the rat race as they say, is that even if you win, you're still a rat."

"If we are honest, we say 'yes' to every request because of what it does for our ego or to avoid feeling guilty. Many of us wrestle with our desire for significance."

"The Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint."

"Sabbath simplicity means putting God in his rightful place, and resting in that."

"Seeking after God doesn't necessarily mean running yourself ragged on his behalf."

"The question isn't, 'is my life complex?' Of course it is. The question is 'Is my heart divided (double-minded) or am I simply focused on Christ?'"

So tomorrow I'll be enjoying my second Sunday Sabbath. So far it involves sleeping in, coffee with DH and the morning paper, then maybe we'll go see a movie, or take one of the dogs for a walk, then I'll spend some time quilting while DH watches football games. There's leftover pizza if we get hungry. It won't involve laundry, or bills, or cleaning house, or painting, or the computer, or cleaning up any leaves that have fallen in the last twenty four hours. Like everything else, they can wait a bit, while I take some time to Breathe.