Dear Sisters,
This is a season of new practices for me. The rhythm of the past no longer fits. If I am honest with you, God should have quarantined me a few years ago. Nothing but global, governmental restrictions could have stopped me.
Most of you are in my boat. Busy. Hardcore. Hard-pressed. Fast-moving. Sleepless (or sleep little). Worried. Tarried. Pushing. Moving. Living on Self Pep Talks.
About a month ago, I noticed that I could not live, move and breathe in this new climate with my old self. I see in my written prayers, on my phone app lists and on mini-poster boards on my desk that I have been both begging God and hearing from God to SLOW DOWN. I have been Chasing Slow for several years. All of my attempts to reign down my schedule and my expectations of myself have fizzled out or, to be candid, failed for one reason or another.
And then came 2020 + Quarantine.
In early January, work shifted away from a client that had kept me busy and stressed. While this was a good thing, my worry about tomorrow (finances) kicked into high gear – – despite the truth that He always covers us with what we need at the right time. I weathered through February.
Then came March.
I don’t have any secrets to share with you. I have circled back to the thing that God has used to ground me in my life. I watched my mom do this at our kitchen table (which also was her office) my entire childhood. She wrote out her schedule and her corresponding lists. She stuck to both.
I’ve narrowed down the precepts of my day to four statements:
Morning Reading & Journaling Accomplish Something Afternoon Rest Body Movement
For the last month, I’ve been working on this new rhythm. When I want to go straight to work in the morning, I tell myself to
Stick to the Plan.
When I determine that I can mow through a football field in one day, I tell myself:
Accomplish Something
(Not Everything)
My afternoon rest is listening to a chapter of an audio book. My body movement basically has to be with a friend because I’m not very good on my own.
I’m sharing this with you because when I get on Zoom calls with women these last six weeks, I mostly hear Overwhelm. Frustration. Can’t Sleep. Anxiety. But, I also hear that women are overcoming through Prayer. Meditation. Outdoors. Exercise. Community.
These things can’t be accomplished without a rhythm that you will stick to.
My hope is that, if you haven’t already, you will find a new rhythm in this season. My hope is that you will build the life you were aiming to live and stick to before the quarantine. My hope is that, if you haven’t already memorialized this new way of living, that you will set aside an hour to do that today.
Because I am extraordinarily practical, I am attaching a guide for you. It was fun for me to make it. Enjoy it!
Because I understand that active change usually cuts straight to the heart of the matter, I am also including encouragement for you. If creating a new rhythm draws out some unexpected emotions, thoughts of failure or negative beliefs about yourself or God’s love for you, remember this:
My dear sister, You are never alone. Never too lost or afraid for a homecoming. Your Father protects you. He marks the boundaries in your life. He prescribes a rhythm for you to live by. He paints the landscape as you walk through life. When you spin out, He is faithful to pull you in. When you fall back, He’s got you. When you slide to the ground, His arms pull you to His chest. My sister, put aside the old. Busy. Hardcore. Hard-pressed. Fast-moving. Sleepless. Worried. Tarried. Pushing. Moving. Living on Self Pep Talks. My sister, embrace the rhythm He created for you. As you seek, you will find the place Where you find yourself face to face With the Living God.
Love,
Your Soul Sister Sasha
