As I was going over my google calendar for this week, I knew it was a going to be a busy one, probably the most busy thus far! The school year is in full swing, it's first week of October and I have new commitments that I am stepping into. I have enjoyed my freedom to say "Yes" to many things I could not do as a mom with little ones still at home. So, needless to say, my calendar is even more busy than before! Yesterday I was pondering the challenge of living within the confines of a day...twenty four hours...and not moving so far ahead in my thoughts and plans. One way to do be mindful of this is what I am calling a "sacred pause" or in terms we all can relate to, a stop sign in the middle of the road, or hitting pause on the radio when it's going full blast!
This is how my busy week began...waking up to a sick kid and a car going into the shop for servicing. This definitely puts a pause in your day, like it or not!
Well, it's day two and my child is still sick and my car had to spend the night in the shop...Here is a bit of the revelation I am having during this pause:
I am pretty good at this dance called scheduling. I pride myself in my calendering abilities, I have a wonderful system on my smart phone, synced with my husband to avoid double booking. I get stuff done! When my phone chimes to remind me of my next task, I smile a knowing smile, because I am already a step ahead. To some it probably looks a bit like perfection, but I know... it's just being a "good planner"! Today, I kinda felt like that girl in the movies, who is dancing alone in a field, doing all the right moves with her make-believe partner, even talking with him about the lovely cool crisp autumn evening...you following me friends? Well, then it's the awkward moment when she doesn't know she was being watched and a real gentleman walks over and asks to cut in, speaking to her make believe partner, causing the girl to feel a bit foolish by the whole thing...
Now the loud music that was playing, in her mind of course, seems to fade in the background. This gentleman leads her to a bench near by. As she sits down, a bit out of breath, he says to her, "Rest". "Oh, yes, of course", she replies, "I can sit for a bit." "No, he responds gently..."Rest." She feels a bit like a fish out of water, not quite sure what she should do. As she catches her breath, she breaths in the air around her, she feels the cool breeze on her back, her body relaxes and she closes her eyes and listens. She hear birds in the distance, the music still plays, but it is muted to just above a whisper. Moments later, she opens her eyes to find herself free to just sit and talk. Not in a rush or hurry and there is a renewed energy. He asks if she is ready to dance again, this time with Him as her partner. He will lead and she will follow His steps. Some of the steps will be familiar some new... and, He says, there will be always be moments of rest in the music, "sacred pauses"...she won't grow tired and weary and will lack no good thing.
