thoughts of spirit
After realizing how delicious it is even for this double Virgo girl to be so dreamy as I am these days, and realizing I have fairies singing in my head and am becoming re-enchanted, I wrote this:
So many times we find ourselves sacrificing spiritual 'tasks' for material ones. The material ones are so obvious when they build up: the kitchen stinks from the dirty dishes or old trash. The bills pile up and the collectors call. Our boss complains; our deadlines loom.
So why spend time or resources on addressing the spirit? Now, in this time, when we need to squeeze every drop of money out of the budget, when we feel like we need to work twice as hard to maintain our lives, how can we justify spending money on a spiritual reading, or our therapist, or even the spa membership, or taking time for ourselves when there is so much to be done? "Soon;" "later;" "next week when things quiet down," we say.
The simple truth is this: When we cross a task off of our tangible to do list, there's immediate relief, a sense that we are on top of the rising tide of chaos that threatens our control over our life. But that to do list is never ending. The dishes always need doing, the next deadline approaches after the first one passes. Our immediate relief is temporary; it is not sustained. But feed the spirit, and it filters into every area of our life. Our emotional life benefits from worries eased and a moment of peace experienced. Our material tasks seem less daunting when we start from the right heart space. And we remember the important stuff, and the reason we do everything else. We can step into our lives and our to do lists each day not from a damage control mindset, but with intention.
I'm reminded of this poignant poem:
I Didn't Have Time
I got up early one morning
And rushed right into the day!
I had so much to accomplish
That I didn't have time to pray.
Problems just tumbled about me,
And heavier came each task.
"Why doesn't God help me?" I wondered.
He answered, "You didn't ask!"
I tried to come into God's presence;
I used all my keys at the lock.
God gently and lovingly chided,
"Why, child, you didn't knock!"
I wanted to see joy and beauty,
But the day toiled on, gray and bleak.
I wondered why God didn't show me.
He said, "But you didn't seek."
I woke up early this morning,
And paused before entering the day.
I had so much to accomplish
That I had to take time to pray!
By Grace L. Naessens
So many times we find ourselves sacrificing spiritual 'tasks' for material ones. The material ones are so obvious when they build up: the kitchen stinks from the dirty dishes or old trash. The bills pile up and the collectors call. Our boss complains; our deadlines loom.
So why spend time or resources on addressing the spirit? Now, in this time, when we need to squeeze every drop of money out of the budget, when we feel like we need to work twice as hard to maintain our lives, how can we justify spending money on a spiritual reading, or our therapist, or even the spa membership, or taking time for ourselves when there is so much to be done? "Soon;" "later;" "next week when things quiet down," we say.
The simple truth is this: When we cross a task off of our tangible to do list, there's immediate relief, a sense that we are on top of the rising tide of chaos that threatens our control over our life. But that to do list is never ending. The dishes always need doing, the next deadline approaches after the first one passes. Our immediate relief is temporary; it is not sustained. But feed the spirit, and it filters into every area of our life. Our emotional life benefits from worries eased and a moment of peace experienced. Our material tasks seem less daunting when we start from the right heart space. And we remember the important stuff, and the reason we do everything else. We can step into our lives and our to do lists each day not from a damage control mindset, but with intention.
I'm reminded of this poignant poem:
I Didn't Have Time
I got up early one morning
And rushed right into the day!
I had so much to accomplish
That I didn't have time to pray.
Problems just tumbled about me,
And heavier came each task.
"Why doesn't God help me?" I wondered.
He answered, "You didn't ask!"
I tried to come into God's presence;
I used all my keys at the lock.
God gently and lovingly chided,
"Why, child, you didn't knock!"
I wanted to see joy and beauty,
But the day toiled on, gray and bleak.
I wondered why God didn't show me.
He said, "But you didn't seek."
I woke up early this morning,
And paused before entering the day.
I had so much to accomplish
That I had to take time to pray!
By Grace L. Naessens