I am pretty certain that some of the hardest things one can do is create quiet space in the busyness of everday life.

I'm in a place that i understand demand. Full time school, just finished working a 35 hour week, training for half marathon in 2 weeks, attempting to stay on track and finish my bible study, quiet time, and then of course, an attempted social life - real conversations with real individuals i love and adore.

All these things are good for me. My life is being invested in, I'm investing in my own life, I'm able to invest in others. No one would argue that these are good things.

But it's simply not healthy. I do despise the days I've been unable to slow down enough to enjoy the cookie i'm eating, the smell of fresh spring air, or to listen music which resonates in my soul.

I know, another girly thing- i have developed a deep love and appreciation of bubble baths and candles. its simply 20 minutes of calm, where my mind and body relax enough to be fully present in essentially nothing.  I know that the Lord Jesus blesses my bath time (can i say that without it being weird?  I can pray, see, and think with greater clarity. The space of time and calm allows me those things in my life that need to change.

I'm too busy.

"And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith."

To be a perfecter of faith, to be a pioneer, to run with endurance....they all require TIME. 

The reminder of how important it is came again during my work out. Wanting to avoid the cold, and avoid driving to the gym, i decided to do a Jill Michaels DVD. When doing the cool down stretch she insisted on finishing out the last three minutes of the DVD, not becuase i necessarily needed those last three minutes of stretches to feel good the rest of the day, but because "we never take enough time to appreciate the work we do for ourselves." I just heard the Lord speak through her straight to my heart -- just slow down child. The Lord tries to grab out attention in all things...including 6 week 6 pack.

I really do believe that so often i can miss the 'better' in the 'good.' "In quietness and rest"  is our salvation. It is said that learning from past mistakes is the essence of wisdom, and striving to be a person of such character means changes need to be made. I don't want to get to the end of my life and be resentful or regretful of the time i spent 'busy' and not actually enjoying the seasons of life at their present. These are simple words.