Time marches on, and I realize as day after day after day goes by that if these minutes and hours and days are going to contain any type of deeper meaning and encounters with the Holy Spirit, it is partly up to me to make space for that. Even without a full-time job to fill the majority of my days with a n assigned direction and purpose, they still fill up with...things. Some necessary, some chosen, some that connect me to God's grace and movement in the world, and many that do not.
A book I studied recently with a Sunday school group helped me put this passage of time into perspective and encouraged me again to prioritize how I am spending my time. Present Over Perfect by Shauna Nieqhuist chronicles a habitually busy, successful woman with a full life and not enough left of herself to fully live it. She is nearing the middle of her life, and after two decades of relentless busyness with her career, friends, and family, at the beginning of the book she is on the edge of burnout and searching for new answers and possibilities for how to live. In her heart, she knows that there was once more to life and herself than what she experiences now, and she sets out to recover the missing pieces. Shauna embarks on a personal journey to discover the source of her drive to constant activity and discovers that she doesn't have to "push, hustle, and prove" her way to happiness. Her desire for love, security, and self-worth can instead be found through letting go or saying no to many "extras" in her life, resting in God's grace, and reconnecting with the people and things that matter most to her. This book is one you could enjoy and learn from on your own with Shauna as your guide, or you could form a group to walk the journey with you like we did recently at my church. Even though we were all in different seasons of life, the opportunity to meet with a small group and reflect communally and privately on how we were living our lives and why was very helpful. We did not all struggle with the same things, but we were able to encourage each other to face our obstacles and fears with God's help. One of the refrains I heard often from the veterans in the group was, "I wish I had read this book years ago...I would have done things so much differently!" Even though I am not as far along in my life yet, I found myself thinking the same thing. Time, it seems, is on all of our minds. Like these fall days that start chilly, quickly warm, and then fade just as quickly into crisp sunsets, time slips through my fingers faster than I realize. I want to be wise about marking time and investing in it, like Paul describes in Ephesians: "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is." (Ephesians 5:8-17) I am trying to find out in this season of my life what shape the things that are pleasing to God take. In previous seasons, pleasing God and living as a child of the light had a lot to do with how I fulfilled my role in the workplace. My rough edges came out particularly when I was at home (which wasn't a very large part of the day) because I was worn out from trying so hard throughout the workday to be pleasing to God, pleasing to my co-workers, pleasing to my students... Perhaps you can see a theme of what I tend to struggle with! In reflecting on the past, I see that even though my intentions were good and well-founded by a desire to love and serve God through my vocation, I consistently struggle with relying on my own efforts to accomplish God's work in the world. If I am worn out, God offers rest and replenishing of my physical, emotional, and spiritual resources. Where is Sabbath in my life? If I am burned out, I need to question where I am deriving my energy, passion, and motivation from. Am I working to please others based on my own efforts (like I admitted to above!), or am I abiding in Christ so that the fruit I bear is for God's good purpose and the result of His nurturing rather than my striving? "Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." (John 15:4) And just in case the point didn't hit home, Jesus follows that up with... “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5) I have experienced the truth of that last part, and Shauna's book testifies to it as well. As the seasons change and we become increasingly aware of how we mark time and live our days, may God help us live wisely and make the most of every opportunity He blesses us with. Harvest time is coming, and as Paul wrote to the Galatians: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9) Rest in God this week, and I will strive to do the same. Despite our intuition and inclination, this abiding promises to be the root strength and vine-like source of direction and refreshment we need to be wise with our time and bear godly fruit in our lives. Peace to you in this season of change. I'd love to hear your thoughts on challenges you face in this season of your life. Do you struggle with busyness or finding a sense of purpose? Are you worn out from striving after your own goals or succeeding by your own efforts? What resources do you use to help you abide in Christ? How have you seen the fruit of that in your life? Feel free to share your thoughts here or on the Contact page.
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AuthorRachel is a wife, mom, and follower of Christ. She is active in lay leadership in the United Methodist Church. Archives
October 2017
Categories© Rachel Yochum and Bible Bridge Ministry, 2017. All rights reserved.
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