"During the initial stage of dormancy--called quiescence--the plant slows in response to environmental cues. If there is too much cold or nor enough light, a Douglas fir seedling will become quiescent, and cease its growth. But if those conditions change--a cold spring warms, a neighboring tree is cut down-- new buds will elongate and a second flush of growth will develop.
"But the second stage of dormancy--called rest -- is controlled from within. A seedling in the resting stage will not grow, no matter how favorable the environment. A warm January will not tempt it out; it heeds an inner clock, and emerges from dormancy only in the fullness of time, under the most deeply favorable conditions. This aids in the safe and healthy propagation of life."
—From Sabbath, "Restoring the Sacred Rhythm of Rest," by Wayne Muller (Bantam Books, 1999)
How, then, do we balance our busy-ness with rest? How do you find time and space in your life for deep refreshment?
2 comments:
For me, and I assume others it is a continous struggle to find balance in life ... especially when we are young and have a full and busy life. Today, I have deliberately set aside quiet time to reflect, read, or simply daydream. I find that it helps to "hook" this time to an event such as the early morning hour when I awake ... or right after the noon meal. If I wait until bedtime I am simply too tired.
Yes. There is a Lucille Clifton poem:
we are running
running and
time is clocking us
from the edge like an only
daughter.
our mothers stream before us,
cradling their breasts in their
hands.
oh pray that what we want
is worth this running,
pray that what we're running
toward
is what we want.
~ Lucille Clifton ~
(QUILTING: Poems 1987-1990)
Especially young and middle years adults seem to have no choice but to join the running. I, myself, ran harder than I knew how to keep up with myself until I totally collapsed.
It's been a long path back, and now I'm different, and also officially old. I deeply respect my younger friends and family who are wise enough to be thoughtful and intentional about their use of time, and their allocation of time for rest and deep reflection.
Journaling and a kind of meditation that might also be called prayer help me do this now, the deep reflection that refreshes the soul. And poetry. I can't seem to help it, I'm in love with poetry.
Post a Comment