Pause – And Stop – Abide in the Vine
Diligence is not constant work, former procrastinators. We’ve learned diligence is doing what needs doing when it needs doing – work, play, or rest. It’s work in season. The needed “work” could be a nap or a game of tag with the kids.
If you don’t have time for that, you likely need more margin in your life. See Rest and Margin for more about margin from Dr. Richard Swenson. He encourages more “white space” in our lives – more room around the edges of our day and in between activities. He’s helped me learn to allow more “time space,” as I call it, for getting things done, for cushion between things, for play, and for stopping altogether. Maybe the stop is 10 minutes, maybe two days. Sometimes it is plain healthy to just do the minimum like simple meals, and otherwise, call a halt to “accomplishing” anything for a while. Breathe. If major relief is needed, then so is more time.
What stop would provide relief for you? For your family? Consider these:
Seek the Lord about whether or not this is the season in your life to engage in certain things. Do what you do as unto the Lord. Trust Him to help you participate, or trust Him to hold your desire until His appointed time.
Divest yourself of some responsibilities. Maybe this isn’t the year to be chairman of that committee. Step down. Or, consider what part(s) of the job make it too burdensome at the present. Enlist someone else to take on publicity or host the monthly meeting. Or, accept the job if those conditions are met.
Is there a “danger” something might not happen if you decline a job? If God is directing you to step aside, He’s taking responsibility for that possibility.
Look for a new perspective. The relief we need might be the way we view a responsibility. Recognize that you make a contribution. Nobody is the source of all knowledge or the final word. My role in blogging is to share what I’m learning about procrastination through thoughts to ponder and encouraging appropriate action, not to supply the sum total of all somebody needs. Even the author of a book still puts out an incomplete resource on his topic. My mother used to say “You can’t do everything somebody needs. Do what you can.” Instead of taking a family an entire meal, take beans or dessert. What part of something does God want you to contribute?
We abide in the Vine more fully when we have margin in our lives that enables us to remember God during the day. Let’s show regard for our minds, hearts, and bodies that need rest and play to be healthy – and keep us attuned to our sweet Lord.
How can you arrange – or accept – a refreshing stop?
