Fumes

We are in a society that says the busier we are, the more important we are. We brag to one another who has the crazier schedule both as a pity plea and hopes to impress each other. I never realized that this was my kryptonite. I wanted everyone to know how “important” I was because of how many things I was involved in. Sadly, my hopes of feeling wanted, needed, and loved back fired.

I found so much worth in being pulled in all of these different directions that my friends and those I really wanted to spend time with stopped attempting to hang out. They got so used to me being gone or busy with whatever that they just didn’t bother, fueling this eagerness for me to pour more into these different things…but left me feeling more worthless.

So when Meegan did challenge me to sit still for 5 minutes, you can understand my terror. In these five minutes, I was face to face with my biggest fear of being alone because I realized I didn’t love, want, or need myself. If I couldn’t meet these basic needs for myself, who or what could do it for me?

It is funny how many people I have met with similar stories. We desperately want others to find worth in us when we find no worth in ourselves and unfortunately, we mistake it for “humility.”

God did not create us for self-worship of ourselves, but to love God and the rest of God’s creation. However, in order to love others, we must first recognize the creation in ourselves that is God’s temple.

The reason I bring all of this up is that in my 27 years on this earth, I have slowly had to learn this process of loving myself instead of solely focusing on others for the feeling of worth. This lesson was only taught in the times of rest with God. It was in the quiet stillness that I found God’s first language…silence. To realize that I had no idea who I was at my core and realizing that God wanted to show me.

Photo Credit: Back2basicsom

Today, dear friends, I pray that you make time daily for God to show you what wonderful and true creation you are; to take care of yourself. This rest may take many different forms: from exercise to meditation, from painting to singing and dancing, may you find a way to connect with God in true Sabbath.

If you continue on fumes, there will be nothing left to give.

How is God calling you to rest today? What fears do you have in just stopping and taking care of yourself?

Let me know what you are thinking. Post, comment, share, subscribe.

Until Monday,

Cheers!

Sam Jo.