Slowing Down while everyone else is Speeding Up

Pregnant Week 23ish

Being Busy

Henri Nouwen

Empty space tends to create fear. As long as our minds, hearts and hands are occupied we can avoid confronting the painful questions, to which we never gave much attention and which we do not want to surface. "Being busy" has become a status symbol, and most people keep encouraging each other to keep their body and mind in constant motion. Occupation and not empty space is what most of us are looking for. When we are not occupied we become restless. We even become fearful when we do not know what we will do the next hour, the next day or the next year. Then occupation is called a blessing and emptiness a curse.

Many telephone conversations start with the words: "I know you are busy, but..." and we would confuse the speaker and even harm our reputation were we to say, "Oh no, I am completely free, today, tomorrow and the whole week." Our client might well lose interest in one who has so little to do.

Source: Reaching Out

Sickness as a tool
Astrid has been sick. I actually have a theory about being sick at this time of year. Everyone goes at lightning speed and sickness can be God's way of a forced slow down. Now, I do not mean that people really suffering have done anything wrong. I am just talking about the kind of sickness that creeps in when you are not taking the time to sleep and eat in the way your body needs. Just the bugs and viruses that those of us who know raw foods and lots of centered living prevents. And when we are a little off path, we can take the small sicknesses that creep in to slow us down and re center us or we can keep going going going and run ourselves into the ground. I tend to want to the do the first. And when Astrid is sick, it is kind of a blessing.. even though I HATE to see her sick. It is a special time between mother and daughter where we tend to be super attached and we tend to spend a lot of quality nurturing time with each other. Everything else is less important. And she is center and for some reason... as I care for her... I nurture myself in the process.

This morning is a good example. After I gave her a steam treatment to hopefully get the last of the uuck out of her system, she wanted to do yoga. So we spent time doing a "centering yoga" podcast. Then I had plenty of time to make her a super healthy breakfast of cooked oat groats with lots of raw apples, coconut, nuts, goji berries and a sprinkle of cacao nibs. Lots of antioxidants. I really wish we had (or I took) the time to care for her and myself like this more often. I hate to say how little that is our routine. Because getting to school on time and me getting work or house stuff done is always a rush rush thing. I always say... well, I do better than most people. But better is not good enough... not when everyone else is living at an insane pace. And the truth is I just do not do well at that pace.

Christmas Non-Rush
Christmas shopping has actually been a real joy this year. First of all... I am being very intentional about what I want and when I shop (mostly on line) it is just checking off the list... looking for specific things. Money is super under control for Vyk and I this year. Which is actually a little unexpected. We had a bit of a financial crisis about a month or so ago. But, now that crisis has lead to us staying very much on task with our financial plans. And able to get caught up with our finances for the first time in a year.

We have been using Dave Ramsey's system. Cash envelopes, no credit, budgets and if you do not have the money... you do not buy it. This is super freeing from the world of guilt that I always felt as we entered the holidays. And guilt based giving is not any way to give.

Giving this year
At Ecclesia we are doing a project called Advent Conspiracy. And it is beautiful. We are giving mostly to the same organization we gave to last year. Living Water. I will link the Living Water video to this blog so you can see what it is all about (although most people who read this know all about it). But, working on a few projects for living water. Planning a Fair Trade shopping night, and working with the kids to make water bottles for everyone to give to family to let them know what that they love them but want to be careful about what they consume in the spirit of Christmas. It is truly a beautiful way to spend my time. And I did a better job this year of leading and not doing it all myself. A gift God has been teaching me.... does not come naturally. But, He has led me to this way of leading and getting more done without strain on myself and my family. It is all just beautiful. And even though, I do not feel the need to have the holiday decorations up... and I do not feel super Christmas inspired yet (esp with Houston weather)... I feel like the spirit of Christmas is overtaking me in a true, real, and unexpected way. The stress of the season has not overtaken me, but the love and amazing beauty of it is coming as darkness comes. The rhythm of the season is leading me... instead of me leading it. I am following... waiting to see... what is coming... what will be born?

God is so good to me. And financially, I feel He has been waiting to bring us into a new and obedient place. I feel like as we listen... other areas shift into the same rhythm.
So, faithfully serving, giving, and loving just brings the results of health and well being.