As I sit in the quiet of our campsite enjoying the respite of a breeze on this hotter-than-normal Northwest day, I enjoy the sites and sounds of God’s beautiful creation. I’ve been looking forward to this time of rest in the great outdoors for weeks, and we have been planning since we made reservations in January. Most of the family is out and about except my first grandson who is napping in the tent and my sweet hubby who is napping on a shaded patch of dead grass.
Quiet times like this refresh my soul and allow me time to reflect on life, relationships, job, dreams, vision, and more. Normally these reflections take place in the early morning alone by the fire drinking camp stove coffee before the rest of the campground comes to life. Today, however, the morning was a bit chaotic since I wasn’t the first one awake. But this afternoon’s heat dictated a siesta while some napped and others ran to the nearest store for forgotten supplies.
Finishing a summer with too much work and recognizing the start of a new academic year is too soon upon me, leads me to impactful reflection and redefining of my time and resources. Rest is found in clearly defined time and space.
Rest – Redraw the boundaries
Redraw the boundaries for work/life balance. I recognize that I cannot continue to do multiple jobs in the time allotted for one. It’s time to practice principals of balance and preservation—balancing the time spent in and out of the office in order to preserve my sanity, my health, and my relationships. Time to start saying, “No.”
rEst –Enjoy the moment
Enjoy the moment. I need to stop getting caught in the chaos of “if” and “when” and fully experience now. When I am at work, enjoy using my gifts of administration and organization to give my students the best experience possible as they train for their chosen profession. Be aware and ready for opportunities to encourage, get to know and speak into the lives of those that come and go from my office. At home, let creativity flow as I romance my hubby, prepare tasty and nutritious meals, tend the garden and preserve it for the winter ahead, spend time in the Word and write as I am inspired.
reSt – Set aside time
Set aside time for stepping out of the comfort zones that cocoon my world. Finding exhilaration and fulfillment in a new art medium, creating a new recipe to share at a social gathering, or writing for an audience that scares me at least a little.
resT – Time-management
Time-management is key to finding rest. Find the planner, journal, or calendar that suits your lifestyle. The choices are limitless—electronic or paper, bullet journal or pre-printed daily calendar, etc. The most important consideration for a planner is “Will I use it?” If not, it’s not the right kind for you.
Personally, I use the Christian Planner. It has month-at-a-glance, week-at-a-glance, weekly pages for sermon notes and inspiration, a yearly vision page, goal pages, and blank pages for tracking important things like health numbers, self-care, books I’ve read, passwords, etc. It is flexible enough to allow me to use a bullet journal/doodle style and maintain track of appointments and special days. For work, I use a bullet journal that allows me to track, reflect, and review the activities of each semester.
Time management is not about rigid scheduling but rather making the time to refresh and reflect on what it important – personal devotions, family time, gathering in fellowship with other Christians, taking physical, mental, and emotional care of yourself.
Do you feel overwhelmed? Are you exhausted and wonder if you will ever feel rested? Are you behind and feel like you’ll never catch up? It’s time to find R-E-S-T! Make the time to reflect on where you are and define where you want to be.
When I take the time to R-E-S-T, I find my heart for home is ready to be expressed and shared. Find R-E-S-T to be able to share the best part of you!
Loving my heart for home,
