“We need to learn how to structure a day that is rich in meaning and joy-producing activities. … How we spend our time defines who we are. There is no magical future. Today is our future” (p 29).
How do you structure your day?
Hopefully by now you’ve got a good enough regula going: some routine for reading today’s Good Enough chapter and this Good Enough blog post and leaving a Good Enough comment.
It may not always happen at the same time every day, but hopefully you’re
creating a sacred rhythm of carving out some time and space in your day for
time spent with God in prayer and study.
You’ve got to be thoughtful about
this because, as they say in the book, a day is a limited thing, only as big as
a mason jar (from the opening illustration on pages 28-29). So you’ve got to
decide what Big Stones and Small Stones will fit in your day.
If you’re reading this in the
morning, don’t start planning today yet. Instead, think back over yesterday. (There’s
a sacred rhythm called the “daily
examen” that can help with that. It’s a favorite evening ritual of mine.)
If you’re reading this at night,
think back over today.
What big
loves (big stones) found their way in to your jar? Which ones didn’t but you
wish they had? What little loves (little stones) found room to wriggle their
way in?
Or, did your
jar seem so full of unwanted things (shards of glass and sand), there was no
room left for loves, big or little?
What meaningful
and joy-producing activities do you wish had been a part of your day? Why weren’t
they? How can you change that tomorrow?
I appreciate the point the authors
make toward the end of the reading, that in some seasons in life, our jars may be
very small, and we may only be able to fit a few things into them. Again, as
someone who is living a more limited life now because of health concerns, I
cannot cram as many stones into my jar as I used to. (Well, I could, but I’d
probably give myself a seizure.)
Some days, it’s good enough to only have a few stones in our jar.
“To be human is to accept that we are limited and the more honesty we have about that, the better” (p 31).
(I love that. If you
do too, you should read Kate Bowler’s excellent book, No Cure for Being
Human.)
Let your big loves in first. Prioritize
them. Then let the rest come as they will. That’s good enough.
From “A Prayer at the Start of the
Day” (for the early birds among us!):
You are the kindness
that runs to find me wherever I have wandered off to. You are the faithfulness
I don’t have enough of. You are my safe harbor in the midst of the storm. And
in that quiet place, speak gently to me of what needs to change in order for
Your freedom to free me, Your love to care through me, and Your faithfulness to
strengthen me.” (p 32)
Pastor Allison
I’m curious:
From page 33: “Think about the day
you’ll have tomorrow. Is there anything you can cross off or kick down the
road? Don’t crowd your day.”
“What are your big loves? Allow
them to take up space.”
“Then, do it again tomorrow.”
How we spend our time defines who we are.
Thoughts? Questions? Thoughts on my questions? Share them with me in the comments!
5 comments:
For me a big stone is spending time with people. I was able to spend some time with my little knitting group. And tomorrow I am planning to golf with some dear friends including one who is visiting from Florida!
I was able to work in the yard a little this evening and that is something I enjoy doing. I definitely don’t want to be defined by binge watching programs which I also like to do!
Those are both great "big stones/big loves" to make sure you have space for in your jars!
Thanks so much for sharing!
I really like the idea of kicking something down the road that crowds my day. A little daily change seems so manageable. I have the bad habit of thinking I need to start at square one and complete restructure my entire day to make a change, maybe just let go a rock at a time that takes up space in my jar but that doesn't serve me well.
I have the problem of thinking everything needs to be perfect before it gets started -- part of my own "good enough" journey. I think starting where you are and making one little change at a time is a much better long-term strategy!
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