I read this quote this morning on another blog.
“To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not, rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common. this is my symphony." ~w.e. channing
It struck me again, as the way that I want to be living, and that I am very much not living this way currently. My life has been a constant barrage of the urgent and busy for the last 4 weeks. I have eaten only 4 suppers in my own house - no lunches and few breakfasts. Until lastnight I hadn't folded laundry in over a month, and I had 4 almost empty containers of sour milk in my fridge. I have been far too busy, and right now I can only dream about listening to stars and birds, and thinking quietly.
And yet I realize that I am the only one who can make this change. I keep thinking that my situation will change, and this busyness will just end, and I will be able to enjoy this quiet symphony, but the more I think about my life and how I live, I realize that it is up to me to make this happen, regardless of the busyness, and the tyranny of the urgent that I experience.
So what to do with that? How does one squeeze more hours into the day than there actually are? Or does this all mean that I have to let go of something, and gain this quiet symphony? I know one of my habits is to try to do everything - I love being with friends, and never want to miss an opportunity to be with the people I love, but sometimes is it best to sacrifice something to gain something else? I think it must be.
So sorry friends, I may not be at Bible Study this week again. But I will probably be at home, quiet, doing something I just need to do for myself. Maybe reading. Maybe making cards. Maybe baking. And I will be meeting God in my own version of Bible study. Please pray for me.
This is my goal as well. The fact is life is busy and its take a lot of effort to just slow down and live in the moment. Sometimes it is tempting for me to want to escape the busyness - perhaps build a hermitage where I can be with nature (yes, I am an introvert:).
ReplyDeleteEscaping, however, doesn't solve the problem. We need to cultivate a new attitude towards life and consciously choose to care for ourselves so we can best care for others!
I too, love the quote you read and also find myself waiting for things to "change". Maybe next week, or when I go on maternity leave....or just around some proverbial corner. There are so many things we can and should let go of, and yet we don't. WHY? Let's keep learning to do this together. So important to make time to be still.
ReplyDeleteSide note: NEVER thought I'd hear you say that you have sour milk in your fridge. WHAT?!