School is back in session! I have one college student, one senior and a freshman in high school, a college junior for a husband and I’m a college sophomore finishing up my associates degree this year.
Fall is also in the air, which for my high schoolers, who are both in the school band, means Friday Night Lights. And for one of them it includes learning to drive. For my husband and I, it means craft shows and markets in addition to regular jobs. Don’t even get me started on all the busyness the holidays bring to the season.
And life goes on and on, fast paced, lots to do, nothing ever seems to be quite complete and at the end of this school year, life will look different for all of us. As we finish up projects, degrees, tasks, and goals, new opportunities are going to present themselves. Some of them aren’t even a hint in our imagination at the moment and others that are, will fade away between now and then. That is living.
I think sometimes the struggle is to just keep up with myself and all of the hustle and bustle that surrounds me. Things fall through the cracks as new things get added to the plate, and life’s constant challenge, and the most important thing to remember, is to live within a rhythm and a harmony that keeps us grounded in who God created us to be. This makes all the difference in living a life filled with joy rather than one filled with being overwhelmed.
So often we become hyper-focused on doing what we feel called to do that we lose sight of who we really are, of the things that really matter, and of the simplicities that bring us wholeness and rest. Sometimes, even when the to do list is a mile long, we need to slow down, catch our breath, and be aware of the preciousness of the moments we are in, because in the blink of an eye they will have passed.
Take time to be mindful of what is right in front of you, resist the temptation to succumb to the tyranny of the urgent and then rest often in God’s presence. It is there, and there alone, where we find the peace and joy we need to sustain us through the chaos of a life that is too often our reality.
This is part of being intentional and why I spend time each week planning it out, scheduling the important things but also leaving room for adapting to the unforeseen things that may arise. And yes, scheduling time to be still and quiet as well. Space where I can focus on who God created me to be, and not just doing the next fifty things on the list. We must remember who we are to be able to effectively do all that we need to do.
What are some ways you practice mindfulness and intentionality? I’d love to hear about how you bring balance and structure to life. Please post in the comments!
Many Blessings to you, Cherry
