Recently, I have noticed something about not only myself, but others all around me. We have all, sadly, been indoctrinated into America's "hustle culture" and even in older age it seems hard to not include guilt into the equation when we take time for true rest. It isn't just about always describing ourselves as being "busy", but about how we go about our ordinary days.
As an example, do you find yourself rushing through your morning routine, quickly showering and bangind down that cup of java so you can move on to the "real" work of the day ahead? Do you regularly immediately jump up from eating a meal so you can clean up as fast as possible and get the next task started? Does Saturday morning arrive and you have a list a mile long so you throw on the work clothes and get outside to beat the heat and get the mowing done?
What do we miss when we race from task to task, never taking time to savor any given moment? Maybe for you, "savor" is too strong a word and implies a far slower pace than you actually want to function at. But for a moment consider something...that beautiful sunrise could have been enjoyed even for five minutes while your day awaited and you sipped your coffee for a few undisturbed moments. While out mowing you likely were in such a hurry you totally didn't witness the robin fluttering about trying to distract you as you came a little to close to her nest...where her future offspring sat nestled in their turquoise shells. Did you even taste that sandwich you gobbled down at lunch that was lovingly made for you by your partner? Goodness, did you miss the care offered to you in that quiet little act, all because you HAVE TO GET MOVING?!?!?!
Peace is internal. People can live amidst chaos and walk in peace, but usually that takes an intentionality to be "in the moment". I am not talking about monk-style dedication to being totally present (and doing so, I might add, while they aren't working to support a family and caring for a home!). I am speaking about merely taking a few breaths before passing through any given specific moment in time, and doing that just once in awhile to ground you, and remind you that every little thing you do doesn't need to be at top speed.
So often we humans are an "all or nothing" species. But life is never perfect, our scheduled may never totally thin out, and we can find pockets of peace, or "rest snacks" if you will. Life can be lived at top speed, as long as we take pit stops along the way, as that helps us find more balance. THAT is how God wishes us to live, with purpose, with compassion forward, and with awareness of the exquisite beauty we are surrounded by.
Now, off to practice what I "preach" here...I am going to step away from the laptop and go sit outside for just five minutes to absorb those fantastic warm summer rays! Hope you find your own pocket of peace today!
In Light and Love,
Rev. Cindy
