Sometimes I wonder when we transitioned from the carefreeness of childhood to the rushed and hurried lives we live as teens and adults. It seems like every year we get busier... we say we have more to get done, and yet somehow we're always still behind. For years I'd been one of the people who had an everlasting "to do" list, or so it felt. I had high aspirations of what I wanted to get done, and when I wanted it done by. When I was in grade school that meant I was always trying to see how soon I could have the school year done. I even remember writing myself out a whole schedule of how I was going to get 7th grade done in four months. But for some reason, I always felt behind. I could never get it all done... and often, that really frustrated me. And then, last year I found myself too sick to do anything for months on end. All my "to do" lists had to be laid down. And now, on the other side of my illness, I found my incessant drive to get to that "to do" list a little dampened. At first I worried that I was loosing my ambition. I'm now realizing that God had a lot more in mind. I mean, when did we stop seeing life as a journey and start thinking it was a race to see who can get to the end first? When did we stop recognizing the treasure of now? And more importantly, how did our "to do" lists become so important that we feel too busy to give God our best? I've told myself the lie a million times... "I don't have time." But then, when was the last time you heard a little child complaining of a lack of time? And don't we have the same twenty four hours as them? Maybe it's a matter of priorities. Of not being so controlled by that "to do" list. Maybe it's about figuring out what really matters. Because really, we only have one life to live. And I don't want to spend it constantly rushing to the next thing. I think we all intuitively know that God should be the very top of our priority list... But how many of us really live like He is? As one of my favorite quotes states... " God gave us time. And who has time for God? Which makes no sense." If my God is the one I think He is... the One who breathes out stars... who speaks mountains into existence... how can I think that He will fit into the tiny spaces of my day that I squeeze out for Him? How can it do Him justice? And how can I think that I will know His presence when all I give Him is a fleeting thought here and there? So yeah, I've started seeing time in a new way. The work will never go away, but this moment will.
Not to say that the work is not important... but to say that God in this moment is more important than the work will ever be. Maybe true ambition is not how much I can get done in this little life, but how much of God's presence I can recognize... how much of the almighty God I can know. So I'll stop to see the sunrise... to head for the woods in the crisp morning air to tell Him good morning ... to pause for a lingering look at the bouquet of flowers in the kitchen... to write a line or two in my journal of gratitude for a God who's always there... Because I can have as much of Him or as little of Him as I choose. There is no limit. Sidenote... I'm taking a plunge in this whole perspective of time and will be making time to update my blog far more regularly. So keep an eye out for much more frequent posts. :) *Photo credit-- Hannah Rayne
8 Comments
9/3/2014 01:19:41 pm
This is exactly what I've been learning too. Life is about the journey. That means I can be in school for three more years and not feel like life is wasted. That means I can embrace each day as a gift and not be hurrying it away. That means that life is an adventure and I can eagerly await the unfolding of God's will today. Beautiful thoughts from a beautiful God, friend…
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Hannah Rayne
9/4/2014 05:29:36 am
Mmm. I think God's got us on the same kind of learning plan or something. :) Seems He keeps teaching us similar things. :) I love your thought about now not being wasted... if today is spent with Him it's lived to it's fullest... love it
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Lesa
9/4/2014 12:09:55 am
I hardly ever comment on blogs and such, but this one really hit home for me. I was just having a conversation with my brother a few days ago about this very topic. Asking, how is it we have the same number of hours we always had, but somehow we always feel like we are always behind? And I have thought the same thing that Glesni was just mentioning. Sometimes I feel like I am strapped down and limited for the next 2 1/2 years until I get through school, wasting time I could be doing something else. But in all reality, if I am where God wants me right now, doing what He wants me to do, this is the best place I could be.
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Hannah Rayne
9/4/2014 05:32:07 am
Praise God, Lesa! I think we all struggle to some degree with the issue of time... and I can really resonate with your feelings of being limited by school. But then I remind myself that God only leads in ways that we would choose if we could see the end from the beginning. Precious promise.
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Riarna
9/4/2014 11:11:34 am
Love your newly updated Blog Hannah! Its really beautiful..Love it! Great post..So inspiring actually, because I can relate ahaha! I guess I spend far too less time on things that count..so this really encouraged me, thanks for allowing God to use you in such amazing ways!! Can't wait to read more! :-) xx
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You know, I think I needed to read this right now. I relate so much to the attitude of trying to fit too much into too little time. I'm currently struggling with my own health challenges and have felt so flat and useless for God as a result. Thanks for the timely reminder that life isn't a race to accomplish "important stuff" but a gift to experience in the present.
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Kezzia
9/9/2014 04:16:08 am
I think this must be a lesson God seeks to teach all of His children, as it''s a lesson I'm finding myself learning, too. Life is a journey to treasure, an opportunity to find His presence in each moment, and I need to remember that more. Thank you for sharing this....
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Julia Rivera
12/19/2014 03:23:26 am
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Hannah Rayne20. Lover of Jesus. Daughter. Sister. Friend. Servant. Fan of the kitchen. Graduate of Masters of Biblical Counseling.
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