How busy we have become and as a result, how empty! Charles Swindoll
No one argues the fact that today’s modern woman is busy. Whether you’re a farm wife preparing daily meals for a crew of men, a stay-at-home mom juggling the countless responsibilities of child-rearing, or a 9-5 career woman loaded under the weight of never-ending deadlines and long commutes; one factor that links all of us together is the ongoing temptation to navigate our days without margin.
Can you relate to this individual’s testimony: ” I feel lonely, hollow, shallow…enslaved to a schedule that never gives up!” ?
The pace we keep prevents us from absorbing life’s richness and meaning.
David prayed, “Open my eyes that I might see wonderful things…” Psalm 119:18
I think one of the most distressing maladies of a life without margin is that we navigate it without intentionally recognizing the gift of our 5 senses. We miss the many evidences of God’s presence with us:
His beauty
The newness of His love
His infinite greatness…and yet His keen involvement in details.
These indicators are gifts, intended to inspire and encourage our weary souls, but we skip right past them…
or step right over them as we navigate our margin-less existence.
This weekend, STOP…even for a few minutes! Jump off the gerbil wheel and listen!
Observe!
Absorb!
Breathe deeply!
Savor!
Here are 5 Ways to Refuel Your Empty Soul:
- Capture the moment – Venture alone to a favorite spot: a nearby stream, a park bench, enjoy a slow walk, a brisk hike, the sights and smells at a favorite coffee shop…sit still long enough to see, to hear, to smell, to touch, to taste… look for something brand new that evaded your notice before, something that brings joy to your soul. The goal is to simply become fully present in that moment…silence the other thoughts vying for your attention!
“French writer, Jacques Reda had a peculiar habit. He used to walk the streets of Paris with the intention of seeing one new thing each day. It was the way he renewed his love for the city. That’s how we renew our love for anything!” (Mark Batterson)
- Connect with someone you enjoy: One of my favorite days is Monday. My husband and I share the same day off and, as often as possible, we reserve it for one another. We try to choose an activity that will refuel our busy souls and connect us to one another. Here are a few of our simple pleasures:
coffee shared over a morning bonfire
a fall bike ride
the deep breaths of a brisk jog with our dogs
a quiet cove on our old pontoon, watching and listening to the gentle tones nature provides
3. Conquer a tough project – this may sound counter-intuitive, but we often live with the tension of unmet goals. We enter a fresh week, frustrated that we’re in the same personal spot we were in the week before. Completion isn’t necessarily the goal of the weekend – Just start something you’ve procrastinated on and experience the joy of progress made!
Whether it’s painting a door,
stepping through the door of the gym,
repairing something broken…
Tackle it and celebrate your forward movement!
- Share your life – you are an incredible gift to the world around you. No one else sees life through the lens that is uniquely yours. Ask God for the opportunity to bring a spark of joy to someone’s life, and then take action when the idea arrives. Enjoy the deep satisfaction of adding value to another weary traveler.
- Celebrate the moment – Send me a picture (at pattym@lakecitycc.org) and a one line description of what refueled your soul this weekend. I will compile all of them and share them in my next post!
I look forward to adding abundance to the beauty, fragrance and glory of the life we all share.
Beauty Awaits…
Patty
Photo Credits: Don Detrick, Briley Moreno, ciee.org, Paula Nilges
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