9.23.2010

MAYBE


As usual, I'm up too late over here in Lithuania. There are probably at least twelve things on my list that should happen before blogging (especially ironic, as I taught a segment on time management to my first years this week), but I had a bit of a realization today: I haven't been doing much that I enjoy recently. My brain is screeching to a grating halt, and it's only week four at LCC. Not writing or reading for pleasure, and not resting enough, for me, is like forgetting to replace the brake fluid in a car....or like loosing the cartilage in my knee caps way too early in life. I'd rather not have knee- or brain-replacement surgery quite yet.

Do you know, I talk a lot about how much I believe in rest, and yet, given the opportunity, I fail miserably at it? Even Jesus, the Son of God, knew when to get in the boat and call it quits. It's part of being fully human, and I'm terrible at it.

Maybe it's a control issue. Maybe it's because I don't really believe that the world won't unravel if I don't get this—this very last thing (followed by nineteen other last-things)—done. Maybe it's because I want to know or be sure of exactly how things will turn out. Maybe I think I can keep up with time, or hold it for just a lick, if I run fast enough.

Are you at all like me?

Maybe not. Maybe you are good at giving up control, and not-knowing, and not-being sure, and not holding all things together.

Then again. You are still reading. Maybe.

4 comments:

bailey said...

i don't think you understand the surge of joy that goes through my mind when i get to read a new blog entry from you. as always, dear leah, thank you for sharing and for being so real.

Alissa said...

Leah -- I stumbled across your blog whilst facebook-stalking. Lovely.

Yes! I am just the same, have been doing the same things, only in grad school, in Indiana, halfway across the world. I had to really work to (re)incorporate life-giving things into by weeks, to become re-inspired.

I don't want to ramble, but just to encourage you in your desire to rest. And to read. And to write. I never sent you that promised reply to your senior sem project, did I? Well, it was a glimpse of God, when I was having trouble seeing him. You, my friend, have quite a way with words.

Unknown said...

beautiful words, as always.

Unknown said...

i still haven't started studying for hebrew. i will. soon. but first i decided that i needed a bit more of your voice in my head today, so i meandered over to blogger and picked this post as the one to read.

a bit ironic, if you ask me.

but here i am, and i just wanted to say that i do know what you're saying in this post.

thank goodness for Jesus and the rest he provides and demonstrates. hopefully we can help each other share in that a bit more.

i love you, and i hope you're able to carve out a little more rest in these final weeks at lcc.

-b