The JOY Challenge: Day 27 - Cracks in Time

I'm deliberately looking for joy for forty days. To start from day one click here.

I am naturally a busy person. I would like to be one of those peaceful, wistful types who know how to take life in stride. But instead I tend to speed through it, focused and fast.

As a child, I remember setting a goal to ride my bike around the block 100 times. No one told me to do this. I simply did it...wheels whirring beneath me, wind in my air, feeling happy and tired all at once.

I haven't changed that much.

After finishing grad school, publishing a book, and helping launch a new site, people keep telling me, "Holley, it's time for you to take a break. Just relax."

I try. Good grief, I try. (And, yes, I realize there's something really ironic about trying THAT HARD to relax.)

It feels as if there are cracks in my schedule. And I'm insistent on plugging them. I fear my life will get a leak if I have five minutes of nothing.

But lately, I've started letting some of those cracks in time stay.

And I've discovered something.

Come close, I'll whisper it to you...

Those aren't cracks; they're doors.

They let in the love of my husband when we sit on our porch together on a cool fall evening. They allow the laughter of friends to slip into my life more often. They enable me to reach out and reconnect with family.

And in all those moments comes the One who matters most.

When I shut the door to the open spaces of my life I leave no room for Him to enter.

It's a truth I struggle with every single day.

You will fill me with joy in Your presence. Psalm 16:11

Lord, may we see the cracks in our schedules as opportunities for you to come into our lives. May the doors of our hearts be open to you. Draw us to you in the stillness and whisper, "I have come. I am here. I am enough." Amen. 

Would you like to join me in the Joy challenge? Today please share if you ever struggle with being too busy (a joy stealer) and what helps. I'm having random giveaways for people who comment or subscribe during the forty days. And you never know when it could be you...  

Comments

[~Grace & Peace]

Is it possible to struggle with being busy and also procrastination? Thus my cracks are not even filled with productive things but inertia on top of guilt. (I'm working on it, or rather, God is working it out of me.)

[Larie]

I'm the same way. I act as if I don't know what to do when there's nothing to do. Even when I do take that time to sit on the porch with my husband as you mentioned, I've got a book or paper or something with me.

smooches,
Larie

[Reese]

Oh my goodness. I love this post.I love the analogy, Girl. Thank you, Thank you!!! and, Thank you Jesus for blessing me, with you, and your words, Holley.
Be Well.
Love.
Reese

[jane hsu]

joy stealer: being in a rush to do something my way. remedy: learn to be patient, seek His wisdom, wait on the Lord and pray for His way, which is much more effective.

[Katie]

I have also heard of these cracks referred to as margins. We all need margins to pull away from the pages in our life and have room for sticky notes and foot notes. Margins are where God does the most amazing things-things we never would have noticed if we didn't glance over and notice the margin once in awhile.
I find Joy in my margins all of the time, when I take the time to notice them.......

[Lisa notes...]

I am like you - I tend to speed through my day, checking off my "to do" list at a furious pace. If I schedule a time for it, I relax. But I'll pray for more CRACKS and DOORS for both of us and those like us. Thanks for blessing me today.

[Mary Lynn]

Being busy with lots of things that are not important in the scheme of things steals my joy. Being so busy that I am not really present with my kids adds lots of guilt. I am trying to be more aware of the amount of time I spend doing the necessary things and more aware of when I feel compelled to do the unnecessary things. Those unnecessary things are replaced by just being with my family and engaging them.

[Nancy]

I am trying to listen to God better but I find myself trying to be the one in control, Thanks for the reminder to take time to listen. i love looking for joy everyday.

[Maria Jones-Davidson]

Hi Holley, thanks for reminding us about the cracks being open doors. Quality time with family is so important to me like going out with them on weekends. As well as quality time with my marriage to Michael is highly important to both of us as it enhances our love for each other. Being busy doing interesting things are good so long as I have developed the momentum. I kinda like the comments by one of the sisters of having some margins in my life. It's good to come away now and then from the busyness and let things settle that way and come back again. I find joy that way and accomplish things better!

[Rosario]

I enjoy reading the posts you share at Holy Experience and at (in)courage. Thanks for inspiring me to share my own stories.

[Bonnie Gray]

Wow. How many doors have I closed on joy?

What a wonderful, life giving post. I gotta crack open the windows in my days.

Hard when there's so much I can fill the hours with.

This is definitely going against the flow, when there is more than enough to do everyday.

I really wish I could ask Jesus how He did it! But, I have you ;)

[Hillary @ The Other Mama]

I can SOOO relate. And I completely agree. We are headed to the beach for a few days and I have no plans. No agenda, no busying techniques for the kids, no recipes that HAVE to be made. I'm just going to hang out. And listen to my God.
thanks!

[Traci]

Your blog is so beautiful and so is your heart for God.

Come join us this weekend over at my blog for Weekend Wisdom and Worship- Week 1! Check it out, I know you'll like it. Let us encourage the body of Christ together.

Nice to meet you new friend!

[game]

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.