REST

Nancy Wilson was one of my parents’ favorite vocalists, and as I recount yesterday’s repeated pitfalls, I am reminded of some words from one of her songs, The Saga of Bill Bailey. The beginning went something like this:

I floated cornflakes in my coffee;
The coffee grounds are wrapped in silk.
My piggy bank is full of bobby pins and milk.
Today what’s right is wrong.
Today what’s up is down.

And you get the picture…

Though it seemed like every single plan went awry, at no time was this more evident than during a 30-minute conversation I’d had with a potential client. I am confident that when they disconnected, the two women each probably had colorful comments about the nincompoop they had just spoken with. My woeful attempts at putting two intelligible sentences together had failed miserably.

Frankly, what they had requested when they sent me a meeting invitation turned out to be vastly different, so I wasn’t prepared and should have immediately told them I could arrange a call with my boss, as what they were requesting was far removed from my wheelhouse. But, no…the people pleaser in me trudged on…and I emphasize the word “trudged.” I kept telling myself to calm down and reminded myself that Jesus would help me answer their questions, but my mouth became drier and drier, and I could hear the anxiety sticking to my tongue and knew they could hear it, too. It was one of those times in life I wanted to ask for a re-do, but quite honestly, I doubt I would have done any better had I had 10 redos.

Bridge

You see, I finally realized I am overwhelmed and have over-extended myself. After a long season of semi-retirement brought on by the pandemic, I am once again working full time for two great employers, each of which I love, and each is very important to me, so I want to put my best foot forward. I also volunteer for an organization that is hosting a major event in a couple of weeks, and a good deal of the preparation activity is falling on my ever-spinning plate of things to do. I have a high-energy puppy that needs care and exercise. I want to ensure that my blog is posted once a week – at least until the end of May. I want to visit with my friends, but I even had to miss seeing a BFF who visited town last week because my life is running like a jet-fueled racecar. Add all that to daily upkeep and chores, and the days seem to be getting a lot shorter while my list of things to do grows longer. In last week’s blog, I shared that I was a people pleaser – and that has only added another layer of guilt because I can’t do “this” for someone if I’m doing “that” for someone else.

Blesson

I imagine we’ve all been in this predicament at one time or another. Trying to get it all done and accomplishing none of it. So today Jesus suggested that He take care of my schedule so I would be able to breathe rather than pant. Joyce Meyer says, “If you don’t like your schedule, change it.” I didn’t like my schedule because I seemed to be running from one thing to another and back again without taking a break to regroup or defrag or, quite simply, breathe. It was causing me to make errors, forget important details, and question my mental faculties. We all have our limits, and when we go beyond them, we tend to become angry, depressed, discouraged, and exhausted.

Jesus led me to some scriptures that reminded me of what resting in Him really means. For some time now, I have needed the type of rest that comes when I allow Him to enter my heart, mind, and soul. You see, Jesus doesn’t need me to do anything; He’s got everything under control and, with His help, I’ll begin to manage my time rather than allowing it to manage me. If you see yourself in any of what I’ve shared here, I pray you’ll do the same.

Substance

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11, 28-30, ESV)

So my counsel is: Don’t worry about things–food, drink, and clothes. For you already have life and a body–and they are far more important than what to eat and wear. Look at the birds! They don’t worry about what to eat–they don’t need to sow or reap or store up food–for your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to Him than they are. Will all your worries add a single moment to your life? (Matthew 6:25-27, TLB)

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