From 10 years ago today….1/11/2013
“Today I am not going to post a case management note. I am not going to read an article or book on theology or recovery. I am not going to look at the calendar. I am not going to call the office to see what’s going on. I am not going to write an incident report or type a letter.
I am going to enjoy being at home…..exercising my domestic skills and listening to my favorite music and spend some additional unrushed time talking with Jesus while I enjoy the smell of lemon cleaner and the feel of freshly laundered linens and the sound of a paper towel squeaking on clean mirrors.
Had a good day, everyone. I plan to.”
A friend shared her devotional with me on that date, as well:
In Mornings w/Jesus devotional this a.m.: “I needed to pause. To look up. To thank God for His grace that helped me complete the task, rather than pounce on the next one. Although I tried to set aside a Sabbath day each week, I hadn’t thought of taking a small Sabbath moment during the midst of the week as well. Faith step: Finish a difficult task, then practice a ‘mini-Sabbath’ and find a way to rest, refresh, and thank God for His provision.”
So much of ministry is a continual “process”….there are few benchmarks to measure, few outcomes to which one can point….and even if there are, we know that it is God’s work, not our own. In most cases one will never know if what they’ve done is bearing fruit. One has to be content with tilling and planting seeds…leaving the satisfaction of seeing the harvest to others. With things like ironing and cleaning, I can step back and say, “DONE!” Check that box. (Now it won’t STAY that way, but for a moment in time…it’s finished.) Sometimes I just need that relatively instant gratification reward to feed my Spirit!