Amazing how times flies. Hmmm...strike that, amazing how I let time slip by. True it seems as if life slips by in a flash, but part of it is where do we spend our time.
Of late I have been reading...oh for the love of reading. I feel like my old self when I was 10 years old. Out going, loud, not quite getting the hang of when to tell the blunt truth, always getting underfoot, asking a million questions, getting to scraps because of climbing trees or better yet climbing fences...yada yada. The point that I am trying to make or is there a point. I forget sometimes. College does that to me. Oh yes. I have been reading a very good book actually several books and blogs particularly those I can glean from stories of their life.
One of the books is Black by Ted Deckker. I have only made it to chapter 5 in oh three days. Believe it or not I just set my world record for the slowest reading I have ever down. My aim? To make it last until the of the next to last week of April. I want to savor this...as I am having trouble finding good pleasant books to read. But this is not the book that is changing my life in a steady way...
No the book I really want to talk about is the book of Ordering my Private world by Gorden MacDonald. It is slow read, because I want to get it. My life has been in shambles far too long. I want to live life and not have it pass by. My body, mind, and spirit has been exhausted far too long and I want to know why. One of keys are ordering my private world. I know you expected me to say get my relationship right with Christ right? True and I agree with that 100 percent. But how can you fully and completely enjoy his companionship if you are not willing to enjoy getting the nitty gritty yucky cleaning out my skeleton closet with Him. Hint: that's another key. Being able to let Him do things with you. If my private life is not in order then how can my outside life be? I have started making a list. Some of you are probably saying a list...who needs another list? While the rest of you are eagerly leaning foreword. Here's my list
I go by what needs to be done during the week without time slots...just basic mandatory things. Often it goes like this:
Cleaning the bathroom,
cleaning my room
clean out the car
wash car
crochet
draw
do photography
read Black, Esther, Bible, Ordering my Private Life
Help mom
Work out
Clean the kitchen
Freedom Feet (Drama class)
Children's church
Multi-media
Spend time with God
Go outside and breathe
and so on
I have a bunch more on this list...but this is a start. Some I won't get to...some I have to get to. Then I go to my schedule book and schedule in times around my classes and meetings the things I have down. Usually I make my list on scrap pieces of paper.
Other than the list I have also started scheduling bed times. In bed at 10 lights out at 10:30 or closely there after or beforehand. I will start waking at 6:30. My body needed sleep and a strict sleeper schedule. I have found when I do this as closely as I can, I have bountiful of energy. Now...on saturday nights or special nights am I going to be like sorry I have to go to bed...most likely not. I love people and being with them. But during the course of the week...you bet'cha, I am going to be reading or doing something pleasant to wind down to stay on task.
Another thing is cutting down my sweets. By allowing myself to have sweets on weekends, I am less likely to eat during the week, or only in small quantities. I drink more water. Soon I will start exercising more, but haven't really started that yet. Plus taking my vitamins is a great help.
As for my spiritual life, I am really cutting down watching net flick. You think how does that help? Truth be told when you are watching almost every night an hour or half hour you get weary in the spirit and it's not healthy for you. I got dog bone weary. I love being active, working with my hands. Painting, drawing, sewing, just in general crafts fill up my spirit and emotion.
The point I am trying to make is I am tired of being weary. I want to live and not only do I want to live but I want to live to the fullest that I can. So I am taking actions...let's see how I can keep on.
Oh, dearest Christina, I sooo remember my hectic college years! You are in a busy season of life. It is a mature thing to make responsible decisions about how you spend your time during these growing years. But it is also a mature thing to realize that these short years of much learning and much activity will not last forever. You will have slower times . . . more quiet times . . . in other seasons of life. Just keep your focus on the Lord. Let Him keep His peace and His quitness established in your heart. In Him, you will weather it all beautifully!!
ReplyDeleteHey girl!
ReplyDeleteI have that book, Ordering Your Private World. It is really good. And, as you know, I am a confirmed list junkie. I think you *cannot* be productive without a good list. I totally have lists of my lists (on my smartphone - ACK!).
Being tired from living life large is a good kind of tired - but yeah, too many movies or things that stifle creativity makes you the "bleh" sort of tired.
But busy is *good*. Look at the life of your Lord Jesus. He, too, had to make time to "come apart and rest awhile"...He had to schedule it, if you will. Why? Because he was the good kind of tired - the kind that comes from being busy loving God and loving people.
I pray I never rest, or at least that I always have to PLAN to rest, in that sense! :-) I love me some busy - it makes the times of rest and quiet make sense. From what I can see, going by your list, you are choosing the good kind of busy, too.