The word, “quiescence,” is one we don’t use very often. Its meaning refers to a state of dormancy, inactivity, idleness or suspended animation. Going to sleep has never been a problem for me. I can hit the pillow and find myself in dreamland in no time at all. As I grow older, I’m spending more and more time in that suspended animation state. The intensity of my days seems to have come to a waning afterthought, but still in my quiet time, I’m learning to categorize the important things – eliminate the unnecessary – prioritize the meaningful – resist the desire to return to the same mega-ferociousness of my once extremely exhausting lifestyle.
Up until the past few years my time has been dedicated to others and the thought of turning inward doesn’t fit my vocabulary. The idea of taking a nap in the middle of the day is new to me. The thought of not having something to keep busy is frustrating. I know the time has come for me to enjoy my life without obligation, but that concept has a hard time butting its way into my little pea brain. I guess that’s why God has built sleep into our being. Even though He doesn’t need rest, He took the last day of the week off to rest.
I think about the animals of His creation and how they inwardly know when it’s time to hibernate. I am amazed at how humanity can stretch out time to the limit without rest. Now that our clocks have been set back, I wonder if I’ll ever adjust to the change. It seems to be a conundrum for me. Maybe it’s because I don’t like change.
So how does one go from an extremely busy schedule to a non-existent one? Most people would be delighted to simply let go of all responsibility, restraints or burdens. I secretly have thought how delicious that concept would be. Something inside me is still beckoning me to do all things at the pace of Martha as she prepared a meal for her Savior. I dream of becoming more like Mary in my approach to this new way of life. Still there are times when I become burdened with guilt for sitting around and doing nothing. This Bible passage is very comforting.
Proverbs 3:24 “If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Dear, Lord, thank you for blessing my life with peaceful rest. Help me to accept this new way of living and renewing me so that I can further serve you – in your way – not mine. Amen!
atimetoshare.me 
If you are like me, the way you go from busy to no schedule is to walk from one end of the house to another forgetting why you went there. You are just as busy, you just never get anything done. In other words, to a certain extent, you don’t really change that much, just what you are doing. My prayers are still with you and Paul.
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You at least rack up the steps🥸
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That I do.
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Love this!
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Thanks Karla ❤️
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I find that for me sitting down and doing nothing takes a lot of work. My stubbornness gets in the way, but it’s usually more than that. I think it has a lot to do with active listening. It take a lot of work to be still and listen to how God wants us to serve. Good luck.
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Thanks Brian. Being still and knowing that He is God should be enough, right?
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You’re a prayer” in your way not mine”, is so powerful. I often think of Paul, who is such a powerful evangelist. What great work he did, and how many people he reached out to and guided them to Jesus Christ. But when God allowed him to be put in prison and spend so much time there, I believe was where he was used most effectively for God. That is where he wrote so many of the scriptures we read today. Think of the multitudes of people that have been saved by those words that we may never have heard if God had not given him that time where he had to slow down. Thank you for sharing.
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Creatively busy into old age is wonderful. I find joy in it. I think you do too.
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Yup🎉🎈
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I knew when I retired from teaching, my daily schedule was going to feel quite empty. After dealing with the grind of being an educator for 40 years, how was I going to fill in these minutes and hours. It’s still a work in progress as I have entered the sixth year away from the classroom.
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I have been officially retired for 6 years as well. It helps that I had a job that I loved teaching drama. I also love to write, perform and create, so all those things continue to fill my life. Only at a much slower pace.
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