Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,  making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  Ephesians 5:15-16

Something that I feel has been very different for me in our transition here is time.  My husband rolls his eyes at me some because I did not have long commutes before – 10 minutes to the office, 15 minutes to Kaylie’s school.  He drove 45 minutes to work.  However, here I am 30 seconds from the church, 2 minutes from the girls’ school, 5 minutes from Publix, 10 minutes from the beach!

School, softball, and all the other things that will eventually crowd onto the calendar have not begun yet.  For now, the minutes add up and I feel like I am blessed with more minutes that I’m not spending driving/hurrying somewhere.

The question I face now and for when my schedule gets busier, is how do I redeem that time?  How do I use it best to honor God, serve my family, and even rest.

See, the first week or so we were here I really felt like I was detoxing from the hurried, frantic pace I felt like we lived in Birmingham.  It probably wasn’t as bad as it felt, but I think for too long, especially towards the end while planning a move, I was always consumed with what was the next big thing that had to be done?  What had I forgotten?  Where did I have to be and I was late?  More clutter if you will.

I think I’m relearning the beauty of resting.  Of not filling every moment.  Of not living so fast-paced that I miss the games of Candyland or badminton or just giggling with my little girls.  I want to have real conversations with my husband, not just greetings in passing.  I want to have time to really invest in people here.   I want to remember to do the dishes.

I want to slow down.  And stay that way.

What about you? What is your pace right now?

-  Do you have time to breathe?

-  Do you have time to enjoy your family?

-  Do you have time for real relationships or are you just doing stuff?

-  What needs to go?