All in Rest in leadership

Learning to obey 'stop' as well as 'go'

Recently I have had the privilege to accompany two of my friends as they gave birth.  I know the doctor-midwife well and had introduced them both to her and I was able to support the families and the doctor throughout the labour and delivery.  Although I knew the doctor well, I had never seen her attend a birth at home before and I was very impressed and thankful for the incredible peace and patience that she brought with her.  

The other thing that impressed me was her ability to know when to rest...  

When God makes me lie down

It is one of the most peaceful, satisfying and happy feelings to watch your child sleep.  After all the noise and activity of the day, to see them (finally!) at rest and knowing they will be restored and renovated in their rest.  

So why is it that we love seeing our children sleeping (not only so we can get a break!) but we think for some reason sleep is just a necessary evil for us as adults? ...

Is it okay to rest when everyone else is striving?

These last few months have been a rollercoaster of storm-calm-storm-calm etc.  For some reason, I find the 'storms' emotionally easier to respond to than the calms.  The calms are what often send me over the edge, but what often feel like an inappropriate time to suddenly be overwhelmed with anxiety and panic! Over the next few weeks I plan to share some thoughts with you on engaging with rest in the midst of 'normal', 'calm' but busy life, but today I wanted to share a post I wrote back in March on leading others in the midst of crisis...

When writing a blog is too complicated...

They say that it takes a while to discover your writing voice.  A while to recognize your particular style.  

 

Since December I have not written on the blog.  I have too much and nothing to say at the same time.  I hate the matter-of-fact, trying-to-put-everything-into-neat-little-boxes-to-explain-God-and-the-world style of my writing.  God Himself and my life are so many layers of unknown to me right now that the very idea of trying to simplify and reduce Him or my life into pithy little summaries seems horrifying to me.  Life is just too raw for sewn-up corners and neatly organized bookcases of thought. 

 

But perhaps, in the hating of my style and voice, I have finally been able to see it...