Good morning…
Instinctively, we know, “It’s time to slow down.” For me, tangible indicators begin to pile up.
1) Often we get sick. Itchy ears. Scratchy throat. Fever and cough precede complete congestion. A full blown fall cold invaded my body last week.
2) Loved ones notice our need. As I scurried around last weekend, my husband said, “You are doing way too much. You never take a break. You are up in the middle of the night, you work every day. When do you ever slow down?” When a loving mirror is held up, it is important to look closely.
3) We begin to forget or to lose things. On Thursday, I left my The Gifts of Imperfection book in the church prayer chapel following our morning prayer gathering. Then, in the afternoon I left my Journey with Jesus book in the room where I met with my Spiritual Director, and by the time I left the retreat center, I had lost my journal. Ugh.
4) Things inside and around us begin to breakdown. With perfect timing and symbolic significance, my favorite bracelet broke yesterday. “Embrace imperfection” are the words on my broken bracelet. Our imperfections breed more imperfections if we do not slow down to walk in step with God’s Spirit.
Warning signs must be heeded. After pushing hard in the “creative work” direction, we are designed to pendulum back to a “holy rest.” God set the enduring rhythm right from the start. So the heavens and the earth and everything else were created. By the seventh day God had finished his work, and so he rested (Genesis 2:1-2, CEV). Inviting us to rock gently between “creative work” and “holy rest,” the LORD lulls us to listen in His handmade hammock. Work……..rest. Work……..rest. Work……..rest. If this gently rocking hammock can hold the weight of God, might it hold the weight of us?
If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea (Isaiah 48:18, NIV).
…Sue…
