Wow. What a week. After Christmas, we took a great trip to Colorado with our kids, arriving home the night of the 2nd. I imagined it would take me all of Monday to get things sorted out, but then I would be back on my regular schedule.
Boy was I wrong!
How busy was it? Well, I posted to my blog once last week, on Tuesday—or so I thought. It didn’t post, but I didn’t realize it until Friday night! Laundry, unpacking, taking down Christmas, cleaning house, grocery shopping, answering emails, dealing with various details of life. Four basketball games, two nights of dinner guests, a few stolen minutes of revisions on my manuscript, a whole family gathering. It doesn’t sound like much when written out that way, but those things consumed all my waking hours.
This kind of week used to throw me into a tizzy, complete with emotional meltdowns. It isn’t easy for me to walk an unmarked path. It’s stressful—and scary. And though I’m better at it than I used to be, I long for the security of routine.
But the Lord never really promised us security—except in Him. He is the only thing that doesn’t change. And while none of the events in my week were earth shattering or life changing, I still needed to camp on the rock of God’s immutable nature.
So how do you cope when your plans are derailed in favor of things that absolutely must be done or dealt with? Are you flexible enough to set aside your agenda and go with the flow? Do you succumb to the moment but stress over all that is left undone? Is there a prayer or a verse that helps you make it through? I’d love to know!
As the saying goes, "Been there. Done that. Got the T shirt." It seems that the further entrenched in writing I get, and the more obligations and deadlines I incur, the more life jumps up and says, "Not so fast." I've learned to take a deep breath and close my eyes before I go ballistic–but it's not easy.
Thanks for sharing.
Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Always good advice. Thanks, Richard!
Sounds like my life lately! I thrive on routine, but I haven't had it. Which means my writing's suffered. And then even when you can grab moments to write, the river's dry.
When you figure this out, let me know!
Oh to figure this out! But if I do, you can be sure I'll let you know, Heather!
I quote 1st Opinions 1:1. "This too shall pass." It seems to help when I'm overwhelmed, which if sort of all the time.
Ha! I love it, VV!
I fail at this regularly, but the only thing that seems to work for me is "do the next thing." That way I don't get flustered and wind up on the couch with a pint of Ben & Jerry's.
Hm. Ben and Jerry's. Sounds really good right about now, Niki!