While William Shakespeare first penned the phrase, the “winter of our discontent”, others refer to the “winter of the soul” but these past two weeks I am learning lessons found in “the winter of what seems like forever”.
Totally housebound for the past eight days, I’ve found myself ploughing through all sorts of emotions brought on by my inability to be racing from one commitment to another. It’s also been a week of soul-searching and coming up with the realization that I truly needed this time to reflect, rethink and revamp. To begin with, there was the deep-rooted fallacy that my worth is determined by how much I accomplish in any given period of time. Of course my theological side would deny that assumption but I had to face that cold reality.
Next I am learning to enjoy doing crossword puzzles without writhing under a load of guilt for wasting time. It’s been tough, as have the puzzles, but I’ve contradicted feelings of guilt by patting myself on the back for solving some tough word challenges. Looking up from my spot on the chesterfield I admitted that the meals were all made and served on time, the laundry was done, office work up to date…so I had every reason to enjoy myself by indulging in relaxation.
In speaking of the Genesis record, author Gordon MacDonald notes that God rested once the work of creation was done. “This remarkable rhythm in the work of God ought not to be taken lightly”. He points out that too often we see time away from work as a waste but “…that certainly doesn’t reflect a Biblical view of things.”
Now so grateful for this brutal winter, I’m doing puzzles between frequent periods of worship.
“…This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest…” (Isaiah 28:12)
