The Goodness of Respite

The Goodness of Respite

“When I was at a breaking point, the Lord spoke to me a word.

‘Quiet your life.’

I did not pick up my phone for social media or to mindlessly dream on Pinterest.

Not five minutes here and five minutes there.

I said ‘No’ to things.

I even stopped serving at church for a season and made my schedule free.

In those months I spent more time in the Word, thinking more deeply than ever before.

Revelations opened up to me; ideas came and progress was rapid.

Then, I let noise back in.”

It’s easy to look back on certain seasons of life and see them more clearly than when you were in them, een look at them with a fondess you lacked while living them, but this season of life wasn’t so. I cherished it while I was in it and saw its value as it unfolded. Like many millennials who have to come to appropriate terms with their technology and vices, I mean, devices, I hit a point that the pull of social media and unlimited information was tugging to forcefully upon my mind and heart. It was captivating my physiology. I needed to be free from its pull so I had to take a break from it. I had to put the phone down and live my life “alone.” No bringing it into the kitchen to scroll while cooking, not into the bathroom, not into bed, just leave it sit and wait until I need to contact someone or find a specific piece of information to use then and there, no browsing.

The mental load that lifted was incredible. The lightness indescribable.

Also preceding that season I read the book Margin: Restoring Balance to Busy Lives: Richard A. Swenson M.D and it reshaped my thinking regarding my use of time. I knew I was just saying yes to everyone and everything because I could, not considering whether I should. Not considering the why behind the yes and even the why behind saying no this committments. Up until then I didn’t say no to people. I always wanted to help at church, family, friends, work, you name it. But it left me personally and in turn my family on the back burner sometimes and I strived to fulfill all my responsibilities. I was making myself more tired and stressed than I needed to be or should have been. So I learned to say no. I had to prioritize my home, my life, my self if there was any chance of me being helpful in the future. And guess what? the world kept on spinning, ha! Because I stepped out of roles of ministry for a time, others had the oppurtunity to step in. I said no to some people, and they still found ways to accomplish their goals. Life still happened outside my home and within my home I was getting healthier. More disciplined. More peace. More wise. More full.

It was a good season and all seasons end. That one ended too but it set a new trajectory for my life. Since then I often have times of sabbatical, taking breaks from social media, serving, committments, etc in order to prioritize emotional, mental and schedule space into my life.

If you feel like you’re doing too much, you’re too stressed or there is an heavy pull to your vices, I mean, devices…perhaps you can say no too. Go 1 week without taking your phone everywhere with you, without scrolling, without adding another thing to your plate. Even good things. Take just week to have every evening at home, without screens, without practices, or parties, meetings or events. Just time at home to eat, think, read, journal, sit outside and breathe. See what happens.