Thoughts on Rest

As you can see by all my posts, I've been resting quite a bit lately.  I am somewhat like the heading photograph, a dory just moored and floating in the bay. Though not in the water, I am spending time on my patio, checked out of my ordinary daily routines.  But what about rest?  Is it just an absence of activity? A time to "slack-off"?

REST according to Websters is:
1) peace, refreshment as produced by sleep
2) a period of inactivity after work or exertion
3) relief from things annoying, or distressing . . .
 . . . . . . and several other definitions with the last one being:
8) a device for supporting something, as a foot rest

I am making progress in my period of rest, (although some might feel that is an oxymoron.)  I feel like this time is "supporting" me in my future endeavors.  It is helping me separate the wheat kernel from its chaff. As I said previously in this post, I have made a couple of decisions, one of them regarding my spiritual life. Although this decision is a private one, I can tell you how this Sabbatical rest is supporting me spiritually. I am learning:

1)  Rest is a discipline. A basic need of all, both the rest and discipline.  

I am enjoying the teaching of Graham Cooke, and recently found he did some teaching on "The Practice of Rest." Now, I haven't heard it, but his quote was:

"Rest empowers you to become God-conscious, where He is the focus, He has the pre-eminence in all . . . We need that spiritual discipline." 

2) I am learning to live in rest. 

One of Graham Cooke's associates said:

Rest was "to step back, refresh and take a breath. Stepping back into stillness, into our secret place for a few hours or even a few days will allow us to realign and hear His voice."

I am realigning and I have heard some new direction.  I have heard and I will again, in my rest. 

3) I am kept away from a satisfied life without rest.


Another of my mentors, Richard J. Foster, has written a book called Celebration of Discipline.  In it he talks about solitude.  (BTW, you can be mentored by people you never met thru their literature.)

Loneliness is inner emptiness.  Solitude is inner fulfillment.

Our adversary majors in three things: noise, hurry and crowds.  If he can keep us engaged in "muchness" and manyness," he will be satisfied. 
ed.

My life, these days is much happier and contented.  

Anyone else feel like giving REST some space in your life?

Night Photography

Back on my little patio, this time at night, taking a break enjoying the late night air. Hubby put up some string lights on the ceiling for me, took some pictures from his phone.

Lights from my wind-chime's view

We were enjoying a quiet moment with some popcorn, when it occurred to me to get my camera, that more pictures of my flowers might be different when taken at night!  Obviously these were taken with a flash. The flash washed out any visible background as it was just getting to be dusk and I could see background with my naked eye.

My cheery pansies!

Hubby says that the blue pansies look like old men with mustaches! I guess I could see that if the yellow were their noses!

Pink Primroses

Lavender, baby sweet peas, and "an old man pansy".

I even tried a few shots of the moon!  Tried getting one with a nearby star, then I zoomed in for a couple more shots.

Well, what d'ya think?

Patio Resident?

I came home from a week away and found a visitor on my little patio. Can you see what is in my planter box . . . look closely . . . .

Everyday this week a pair of doves have been visiting.  One sits in this same place for a while as the other perches on the railing and inspects the patio.  A couple of times he flew at the sliding glass door. Did he see his own reflection in the window or what? Looks as if they are looking for a safe nesting place.  Hubby asked me what I will do if they decide to use my patio for their new home.  Have to think about that one, I would miss my morning outdoor breakfast retreats, but love seeing them up close through the window! And today, a chickadee flew into the corner planter box to have a look! Never in the nearly five years that we have lived here, have I seen birds visit my patio! It truly is Spring, if you are bird watching!

Rays of Sunshine

The weather has changed, and is more conducive to a positive outlook with all the sunshine! I think I will get out and take more pictures, after I finish me tea on the deck . . .

Soaking up some of the rays . . . no writing today!

One New Adventure

Sabbatical adventures, when do they start?

Immediately, when all the pressure was off -- "to preform"-- I picked up my camera.  I found myself walking out the door to the post office and grabbing my camera!  Odd.  It hung from the dining room chair finial for the longest time.  Oh, I used it, for taking pictures of my finished products to list in my online shop.  But, taking pictures just for the fun of it?  Not often enough!

Today it was rainy, again, but I took the camera while we drove to the post office.  I took some pictures as we drove,

while I was sitting in the car waiting for hubs to come out with the mail,

and later when I went on an errand.  Before I got to my destination, I got a coke at the local drive-thru, sat in the parking lot and snapped a few out the car window!  Then when I got home, I went outside my bedroom window and snapped a few more.

Sabbatical is like these next pictures -- going from a gray late winter day,

looking more closely  . . . .

zooming in . . . .

to an awesome moment!

Taking pictures--always something that I wanted to be better at and being a better photographer.  It takes time to see what is really there.

Yes! The adventure begins!

Simple?

I strive for a simple year, this sabbatical "year", but I realize it will be anything but simple!
(for a little background see this post.)

First, there are the reactions of friends and acquaintances.  I run the risk . . .er . .  'the fact' of some not understanding.  Their first question might be: "Why?"  while they are probably thinking: "She's crazy!"  They more than likely are thinking of themselves in this situation, that they will miss my participation, and what are they going to do in my absence. I worry about that too, as I do not want to leave them 'understaffed', so to speak. I do understand that this concept of taking oneself 'away from it all' is a little different.  Society, these days, seems to dictate that we need to be part of a community to be complete.  That we are just a specific cog in the works! And we are nothing, if we are not a part of the group!  I reject the thought that I am not of value if I don't conform, if I 'm not a blender in the group.  ( My quilter persona  shows here--blender fabric!) So much for my rant.

Second, it will be hard for me to change my ways.  We all get into ruts,  and I have been falling into a path that is actually not leading me in the right direction.  I have been frustrated, stymied, and bored.  I knew it was leading nowhere, but didn't want to face stopping.  Then what would I do?  Where would I go?  I am a doer.  I can't be idle, or so I thought.

Well, how do I begin?  Today I sat on my upstairs patio for breakfast and started my day watching the blue jays, finches and robins in the tree tops.  Quite refreshing really.  Listening to their calls, watching the pine needles sway with their inhabitants activities.

So begins my sabbatical . . . . Day One.