Originally published Wednesday, 04 June 2014.
Today's post is Day 4 of Bonnie Gray's special Book Launch Blog Tour Series -- {21 Days of Rest: Finding Spiritual Whitespace}. Click here to read Day 1 and the entire series on rest.
A waste of time.
It seems driving our kids to and from school - putting miles to do multiple grocery runs - or going to the dentist for a cleaning never falls into the "waste of time" category.
We see the value. We know that doing anything of worth and necessity requires some sink time.
How about soul time?
Why is nurturing our souls any less important than any of the above?
The one thing that seems to most easily fall off our priority list is you. And me. The one thing that gets most easily worn and tired is the one thing Jesus cherished as His time slipped away on a cross.
You and me at rest with Him. Free to be who you are. And who you are not.
The one thing He wanted to restore was who we are inside. His.
"And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?
Is anything worth more than your soul?" Mark 8:37
Space For Her
This is the story I want to live. The story of a daughter who is beloved.
Who isn't a waste of time.
Someone who makes space for her. Cherished for who she is, not what she can do.
Not a slave whose main purpose is usefulness.
Not a stock investment that needs to perform and show an ROI.
I want to spend my time, the way my Father in Heaven does -- an artist who paints on the canvas of a popsicle summer evening sky, who places wild poppies where the soil is rocky and dry.
His Canvas
I want to make room in my life to be His canvas, that He can fill with beautiful, mysterious things that reflect the unique me He designed.
Every night, when he paints a sunset, God paints it slowly, mixing colors so patiently the sky begins to look like the dawn of a sunset.
With every turning wave, God slowly pushes grains of sand onto the shore. For countless number of moonlit turns, God took the time to sweep soft land, so that you and I can walk barefoot, feeling our toes squish in silken sand.
God as artist lavishes time on his most beautiful creations in nature.
How can you and I be any less?
God made our hearts hungry. For beauty. Dreams. Intimacy with Him. Friendships. Quiet. Rest.
God made our souls long for all these things -- that take time.
We are not projects for God. We are poeima of God.
~~~~~
How are you longing to create space to nurture the you God made?
Pull up a chair. Click to comment. This is a quiet space for you & me.
~~~~~
Bonnie Gray's new memoir-driven guidebook to rest just released! Order a copy of Finding Spiritual Whitespace: Awakening Your Soul To Rest . This book is for anyone longing to create space in life to draw closer to God, to rest and discover who they can be when rest becomes their heart's home. Learn how a life-long dream unexpectedly launched her into a debilitating journey thorugh anxiety and painful childhood memoires to discover a better story of rest. Visit TheBonnieGray.com to learn more.
"Whitespace is soul grace. Bonnie Gray ushers weary women into the real possibility." Ann Voskamp, author of theNew York Timesbestseller One Thousand Gifts
Bonnie Gray is the soulful writer behind FaithBarista.com serving up shots of faith for the daily grind. She is a contributor at DaySpring (in)courage, her work spotighted by Christianity Today and nationally syndicated through McClatchy-Tribune News Services. After graduating from UCLA, Bonnie served as a missionary, ministry entrepreneur, and Silicon Valley high-tech professional. She lives in Northern California with her husband, Eric, and their two sons.
{Photo credit: faithbarista.com}
SHARE
