When I was in college, I had this one professor who always allowed us to use a cheat sheet on test days. That policy, in and of itself, was not that unusual, as many professors had similar policies. But where this professor differed was that he had no rules about our cheat sheet other than it all had to fit on the front side of one sheet of paper.
No rules about font size.
No rules about margins.
Simply, "However many words you can get on the front side of one piece of paper."
Like everyone else, I tried to type my entire study sheet on that piece of paper. Every. Single. Word. I used size 6 font and set the margins as wide as I could. And in whatever white space was left by my printer's inability to print that wide, I wrote by hand. There was not one square inch of white space. No discernible margin.
I noticed, though, that this didn't actually help me on test days. There was too much on the page to be useful at all. I couldn't find any of the information I needed because the words were all just crammed together on the page.
So I changed my strategy and actually studied for the test. Then I put information on the sheet that I thought I might need during the test. Around each piece of this information was space. Lots and lots of space. And because I had created margins around my information, it was easy to find what I was looking for.
I was thinking about this yesterday because I listened to a sermon from Andy Stanley called Breathing Room, and it made me realize that sometimes too much is just too much. Cramming everything into life that you think you need doesn't make your life better, it makes it busy. And it makes it infinitely harder to find the things in your life that are actually beneficial.
All that to say, I'm going to begin today to find the margins of my life, create some white space, and enjoy the breathing room.
Showing posts with label Rest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rest. Show all posts
Day 70: What Really Matters
It's quiet in this little space I have carved out to be my home office. Quiet is a rare commodity in our home these days.
I have one little twin off at Preschool, and her sister is in her room, finally sleeping after an excruciating 5 days of mouth pain.
Babies should not have to endure that kind of pain, especially babies who have already endured so much. (I guess technically she's not a baby; she's a great big 4 year old, but she's our baby.)
Funny, just writing that out. She's our baby. Ours.
Some days, when I'm bogged down in the tornado of chaos that threatens to overtake my mind, I am reminded of the storm we lived in for over two years, and the beauty on the other side of that storm.
The adoption process is incredibly, incredibly hard. And while our process was probably atypical in its origins, I doubt that the overall process was that different from most.
There were days when we lived with the threat that at any day their birth mom could come and take them away from us. There were days when we were overwhelmed with paperwork and legal ease and court proceedings gone wrong.
There were days when we wondered if we were doing the right thing, were the right parents, were too old, too set in our ways. Would we have enough energy, enough time, enough love?
There were many long days and nights and weeks and months of trying to solve the psychological distress of our girls.
So many unanswered questions. Truth is, there are still so many unanswered questions.
But the one thing that mattered all along . . . the one thing that matters today . . .
We were called to be their parents. God created us for them. Our hearts and lives are so deeply knit together that you would never know they were not born into our family. They are indeed, ours, in every conceivable way.
It's easy to think these things when it's quiet. And easy to forget them when life gets crazy.
All that to say, a little quiet is good for the soul. It helps you remember what's important. It helps you remember what matters. And what doesn't.
Photograph Courtesy of Chip Gillespie Photography
www.chipgillespie.com
The Wisdom Principles #9
Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life merry, and money is the answer to everything. Ecclesiastes 10:19
As I have mentioned, I am studying through the book of Ecclesiastes using a commentary by David Fairchilds, pastor at Kaleo Church in San Diego. In chapters 10 and 11, he is teaching through what he calls "The Wisdom Principles." Number 9 really struck me today. Wise men know when to play. It speaks for itself, so I am copying it for you to read:
"Not only do the wise know when to work, they know when to play. How many of you know when to play? Some of you are very good at working, but you are terrible at enjoying what it is that you are working for. Some of you also have been told a poverty theology or a prosperity theology. Neither are the biblical model. In the Bible there are righteous rich and unrighteous rich, there are righteous poor and unrighteous poor. The issue is not rich or poor, the issue is righteousness or unrighteousness. Money can help you attain the goals you have set if you want to get married, buy a house, put your kids through college, and know when to throw a party and enjoy your friends. Wise people know that money without wisdom is dangerous and deadly. Wise people know how to make and how to spend their money. Sometimes we are so focused on our financial planning though that we can’t enjoy a meal out or a vacation away because all we think about is the money."
I have a friend whom I have heard say many times, "It's only money, if I don't spend it on this, I'll just spend it on something else." The same friend also says, "It's not that I can't afford it, it's that I chose to spend my money on something else."
Last night, I took my two sons out for a nice steak dinner. It was expensive. Well . . . by my standards it was. And as I paid the bill, I had a moment of "Good NIGHT, what was I thinking?" but that thought only lasted for a moment. And then I thought, "It's only money, if I didn't spend it on this, I would just spend it on something else." And I really enjoyed the meal and the time with the boys. So, I'm glad I spent it.
But, I must also be wise. Which is why God gave me my husband. He is our planner and saver. But I also think it is why God gave me to my husband, because I am the part of us that knows when to play. :) Sometimes I over-play. But sometimes, he over-plans. So, we need each other. Together, we are wise. . . sometimes.
All that to say, it is easy to focus too much on too many things, and in doing so become fools. What we are called to do is to focus on God and in doing so, be wise.
As I have mentioned, I am studying through the book of Ecclesiastes using a commentary by David Fairchilds, pastor at Kaleo Church in San Diego. In chapters 10 and 11, he is teaching through what he calls "The Wisdom Principles." Number 9 really struck me today. Wise men know when to play. It speaks for itself, so I am copying it for you to read:
"Not only do the wise know when to work, they know when to play. How many of you know when to play? Some of you are very good at working, but you are terrible at enjoying what it is that you are working for. Some of you also have been told a poverty theology or a prosperity theology. Neither are the biblical model. In the Bible there are righteous rich and unrighteous rich, there are righteous poor and unrighteous poor. The issue is not rich or poor, the issue is righteousness or unrighteousness. Money can help you attain the goals you have set if you want to get married, buy a house, put your kids through college, and know when to throw a party and enjoy your friends. Wise people know that money without wisdom is dangerous and deadly. Wise people know how to make and how to spend their money. Sometimes we are so focused on our financial planning though that we can’t enjoy a meal out or a vacation away because all we think about is the money."
I have a friend whom I have heard say many times, "It's only money, if I don't spend it on this, I'll just spend it on something else." The same friend also says, "It's not that I can't afford it, it's that I chose to spend my money on something else."
Last night, I took my two sons out for a nice steak dinner. It was expensive. Well . . . by my standards it was. And as I paid the bill, I had a moment of "Good NIGHT, what was I thinking?" but that thought only lasted for a moment. And then I thought, "It's only money, if I didn't spend it on this, I would just spend it on something else." And I really enjoyed the meal and the time with the boys. So, I'm glad I spent it.
But, I must also be wise. Which is why God gave me my husband. He is our planner and saver. But I also think it is why God gave me to my husband, because I am the part of us that knows when to play. :) Sometimes I over-play. But sometimes, he over-plans. So, we need each other. Together, we are wise. . . sometimes.
All that to say, it is easy to focus too much on too many things, and in doing so become fools. What we are called to do is to focus on God and in doing so, be wise.
How'd I Get So Busy?
Sleeping is not something I am doing well these days with my broken arm. If anyone has ever broken their arm, and knows of a good way to sleep so that you don't wake up feeling like you either swam the English Channel or got the crap kicked out of you in your sleep, please post and let me know. I'm desperate!!
This morning, I awakened about 3:15 a.m. because of my inability to sleep (see above) and the thoughts of the day's to do list was running through my head. Seriously, at 3:15 a.m. on a Saturday! No one should have a to do list on a Saturday. Well . . . I guess that's a stupid thing to say because most people probably save a good majority of their "to dos" FOR Saturday.
Anyway, it is now 10:20 a.m. I have washed two loads of clothes, gone to the bank, gone to the post office and am now sitting in my office waiting for 40 5th and 6th graders to show up for CREW CAMP where they will learn how to lead worship in kid's church. It will be a fun day. I'm sure it would be more fun if the vicadyn I take at night was something I could take during the day. But it isn't. So, bring em on!
It's only 10:20. I still need to get my nails done, get my hair done (you gotta look good when you feel bad) finish my laundry, buy groceries, and call all of my parents and parent in law. I'd love to take in a movie, but that probably won't happen because I'm too busy. Oh, and it would be awesome if I could figure out a way to drop 20 pounds today too, otherwise I'm going to have to add "buy new clothes" to the list.
How did I get so busy? I just moved here. I swore I would not fill up my days and nights and weekends. But I have. I wonder how to get un-busy? A broken arm didn't do it.
I bet God just sits up in heaven and shakes His head at me and says, "Sabbath? Remember that one?" All that to say, maybe I would sleep better (even with a broken arm) if I lived a more restful life.
This morning, I awakened about 3:15 a.m. because of my inability to sleep (see above) and the thoughts of the day's to do list was running through my head. Seriously, at 3:15 a.m. on a Saturday! No one should have a to do list on a Saturday. Well . . . I guess that's a stupid thing to say because most people probably save a good majority of their "to dos" FOR Saturday.
Anyway, it is now 10:20 a.m. I have washed two loads of clothes, gone to the bank, gone to the post office and am now sitting in my office waiting for 40 5th and 6th graders to show up for CREW CAMP where they will learn how to lead worship in kid's church. It will be a fun day. I'm sure it would be more fun if the vicadyn I take at night was something I could take during the day. But it isn't. So, bring em on!
It's only 10:20. I still need to get my nails done, get my hair done (you gotta look good when you feel bad) finish my laundry, buy groceries, and call all of my parents and parent in law. I'd love to take in a movie, but that probably won't happen because I'm too busy. Oh, and it would be awesome if I could figure out a way to drop 20 pounds today too, otherwise I'm going to have to add "buy new clothes" to the list.
How did I get so busy? I just moved here. I swore I would not fill up my days and nights and weekends. But I have. I wonder how to get un-busy? A broken arm didn't do it.
I bet God just sits up in heaven and shakes His head at me and says, "Sabbath? Remember that one?" All that to say, maybe I would sleep better (even with a broken arm) if I lived a more restful life.
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