“Beep Beep Beep” goes my alarm clock. I roll over and hit the snooze button…probably not once but a few times before I turn on Pandora and start getting ready for my day. After about twenty-thirty minutes, I am dressed, hair curled and ready to walk out the door. I walk every day to work since my house is only a block or so from the church.
As I walk, my mind wanders as I think about the tasks I have set before me today. Today I found myself making a mental checklist of all the things that I need to do to get ready for our church picnic this evening. This morning, I prepped our S’more worship bulletins for tonight and finished making some table tents to put on the tables. At noon, I hopped in my car and drove to Walmart where I purchased some buns and water for tonight. Since it was nearing one pm, I wound my way through the Wendy’s drive through where I picked up a quick lunch. I ate my lunch in the car and finished it sitting at my desk in my office which I dislike doing. I would much rather spend the noon hour at my own house, taking some time to just be!
All the tasks that I have to get done at work are sooo important. Yet when I get done after a busy day and head home, I find it so hard to sit down and write—especially if I have spent the day writing and crafting a sermon– even if an idea is floating through my brain. This summer I HAD THE BEST INTENTIONS to read through the Bible with Wendy Speake, but my friends, I have FAILED MISERABLY!!! I started off really well, but then summer started happening and I couldn’t keep up with it. In June, while enjoying my beloved Rocky Mountains of Colorado, I was determined to get back on track. I spent one afternoon reading like two weeks worth of readings. After that trip, I returned home and ten days later, I left with a group of youth and another adult for our church’s Youth Gathering. Sadly I felt like I was failing miserably yet again!
But what I have come to realize is that I may have stopped reading along, but I was still hearing Scripture. The Youth Gathering was scattered with the gospel of Mark. In all reality, Scripture and God were all around me. I just had to take the time to notice God all around me. (Hint: My Write 31 Days topic is leaning towards something along those lines!)
As I watch for God around me, I am reminded of the importance of finding margin in my life; of finding time to do those things that bring me joy–like my writing. I am going to have to do a better job of scribbling down notes on my phone, on napkins, whatever may be in front of me so that I can write whenever I want and feel like writing!
I may have failed miserably reading along with my blog friends as we try to read the Bible in a year, but God is gracious and allows us to start and restart again and again and again! So my friends instead of hitting that snooze alarm one more time, I am going to try and begin my day in God’s Word—because “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” I can’t think of a better way to ground my own time and space to be able to create a sacred space that reflects God’s Word through my own words.
Where is your favorite sacred space to write?
Oh friend… grace, grace! I fail at almost any Bible reading plan! (I think it's the strict adherence to rules! LOL!?) 😉 Honestly – I love the Word and I am in it often, and I really do love a routine… the If:Equip is great because it's a small couple of verses and if I miss a day or two, I don't feel too guilty about it! I know as I pray – I write and in that time, He puts Scripture on my heart and that is my favorite way to spend time in the Word… you know, WITH The Word! xoxo
Thanks for the reminder that there is grace, friend! I am going to have to check out IF:Equip. I love the idea of having just a few short verses each day. Yep spending time in the Word WITH the Word is my absolute favorite too!
I loved this post Tara! "I just had to take time to notice God all around me." I so often fail at noticing God all around me. I also often get distracted by the must do's, and I need to remember to make time for things that bring me joy. I hope you have a wonderful day!
Thanks Jo! I too often fail at noticing God all around me too. That is why it so important to take the time to notice. Hope you have a wonderful day too!
Cheers! I fail miserably too from time to time. That is reality of human-ness. I have not exercised this week, but I did get to write. Don't tell that I'm behind on my household chores as well! As for writing and arranging…I did get to do that yesterday, but I also left for work with no makeup (did that at stop lights), and a wet head. So it goes. We can only do so much, and in that we are human. Jenn
Jenn, glad to know I am not alone at failing miserably from time to time. You are so right. It is the reality of our human-ness. I didn't exercise last week at all either. You are so right…we can only do so much.