Picking up the Pace

First of all, how does so much time pass so quickly between posts? It doesn't seem like that much time passes. I think Iona has it right. I think you have to schedule writing. In fact, I think you have to schedule the important things because if you don't, the "necessities" of life will take over and the stuff that means something won't ever be done. I'm not the first to think or say this, though.

Do you remember the email that has been going around for years about the speaker who did the demonstration in the business class? He took a big jar and put big rocks in it. Then he added small rocks which slipped in between the big rocks. Next he added pebbles. After that he added sand, and after that, he added water. The students watched silently as he did his little demonstration. When his jar was all full, he asked the students if they knew what it meant. "You have the ability to make room for more things?" proposed one. Others suggested this or that, and when all the ideas were exhausted, the man looked at the students who were sitting with pens poised for the wisdom he was about to dole out, and he said, "You always have room for what you put first, so put only the important things first." He then left the room.

Granted the version you heard may not be exactly like that, but that is my paraphrased version that my brain remembers when my calendar starts looking too crowded. When something has to go, I begin to remember the simple truth: you always have room for what you put first, so put only the important things first. How good life would be if we truly followed such a simple logic.

Of course, for some, life does not offer such luxuries. Some truly do have lives that seem to require a great sacrifice of important things. Parents who have to travel, a spouse who has to travel. Workers who work long hours and come home exhausted. Sadly, what has to be most important is making a living and supporting those you love, and sometimes that requires a lot of sacrifice, but really, for most of us, that is not the case. For most of us, we either don't know what is important or we forget to put it first.

Sound like a sweeping generalization? Maybe, but I still think I am right.

But this isn't about everyone else. This is about me and my life...and sweeping, which I did today. I even mopped and vacuumed. I didn't dust. I honestly don't see much point in dusting. However, I did get rid of spiderwebs today. They grow as fast as time passes between posts! I wiped away a few magnum opus (opi?), great works for those of you unfamiliar with Charlotte's Web. On one hand, I sort of feel bad about it. Think of all those bug eaters that are going to be born in the garbage dump now rather than in our yard where we need bugs eaten. On the other hand, think of all those eight-legged critters that won't cause my children (or husband) to scream hysterically or leave marks on the wall when the obliterate the little critters with their shoes. Besides, I would think the little guys will be happy with the buffet of bugs in the garbage dump, wouldn't you?

Believe it or not, I had not pondered bugs, bug eaters, or bug buffets when I started this. What I was considering was the sweeping, mopping, and cooking, though. I was pondering art time with children, crawling up into The Big Bed for reading time, and homeschool stuff. I was considering the stuff of life and how it is and isn't scheduled in.

Presently, it is our plan to start a women's group in our home the Monday after Labor Day. Different ladies have asked me to expound on Christian warfare, and the Lord has brought it to my attention that most people in the church don't know how to war over their identities or destinies. I have met very few who even know their identities in Christ, in fact. The Lord has placed it on my heart to have a class that teaches identities, warfare principles, walking in the Truth rather than man's interpretation of the Truth, and so on. In all honestly, I'm very excited.

I'm also a little nervous. With homeschooling two children, trying to keep the house up, laundry, cooking, Bible study myself, being a wife, having some semblance of a social life and so on, I'm pretty stretched. I find myself wondering how I am going to fit leading a women's group and attending a life group, which is necessary in order to apprentice for the purpose of leading a group under our church's umbrella. I sort of look at this group as a beta group. I am hoping to learn and figure out things so if I lead another group, it'll be smoother.

Anyway, I've been trying to see how I can schedule all this in without giving up my own personal quiet time and time to renew myself. I don't want to go into this blind and then get blasted from exhaustion and figure out after the fact that I simply don't have time to do this. The thing is, I do think I have time to do this. I think this is of God, and I think everything will work out okay, but to aid the transition, I'm adding a few things here and there. I'm working on homeschool schedules, working on making sure I have my quiet time in the morning, making sure I get some time during the day to be quiet and be renewed, and still not ignoring required house needs. Things aren't perfect yet, but we are moving in the right direction.

The key is figuring out what is important and putting that in first.
Then take those things and arrange them so they fit and make sure to add room for the necessary extra time for preparation of those things.
Then decide if there is anything else that needs to be added or I want added.

I think I have figured out what is important, and now I am trying to work them in so they fit well. I have other things I'd like to do if there is time. If there isn't time now, maybe later.

Speaking of time, it is time to work on some school curriculum. We started back with reading and math this week. Next week I'm going to add Spanish and another subject, and the next week I'll add something else. By the time the week after Labor Day gets here, we'll be in full swing and comfortable with it. However, to get there, I need to do some more planning, so off I go.

Hoping you know the important things and have the courage to put them first......