A Discovery

During our trip to Ashville this summer, I discovered something wonderful.

I discovered the splendor, the wonder, and freedom of days without Internet.

Really. I'm not joking. Those six days I spent without Internet connection shocked me. Shocked me because I wasn't expecting such relief.

I was expecting to be a little frantic. To have withdrawal symptoms. To get home and discover something wonderful (or terrible) had happened online, and I had missed it.

But none of the above happened. Instead, I gained quite a few minutes in my day. I didn't feel a bit guilty about going for days without posting on my blog (though I did wish I had let my readers know that I would be gone!). I didn't worry about emails piling up. ("Oh well, they'll have to sit!") I didn't get headaches from straining my eyes at the computer screen. I didn't get stiff and sore from sitting still too long. For those six days, the only world that existed was the immediate one.

My family - not some other family.

My church - and the new body of believers we met.

My possessions - not the advertised stuff.

My world.

Forget about the 6 trillion people - and their lives - waiting to bombard me from that screen. I can only bare my burden for today - not the burdens of everyone else.

As I hung clothes on the line yesterday morning, I looked at the beauty around me, and recalled that wonderful feeling of freedom. I knew I hadn't posted on my blog since a brief entry on Saturday, but I was outside, ...with clothes whipping in the wind, the faint scent of soap, the wonderful smell of clean air, the sound of birds talking to one another, the background sounds of a small neighborhood - such as a neighbor's car door slamming - , a long grass blade tickling my bare feet... I was so content in just soaking up what my five senses were telling me.

And there was another sense that was satisfied - that sixth sense, deep inside, that says all may be exploding on the other side of the world, but the people I love and care about most are safe, and my God is still on the throne. He will care for that other side of the world, too.

And I realized that I haven't done as much computer work in recent days as I used to. It's worried me a little; I've worried that my blog readers will leave me, or that I'll loose the ability to write what I'm thinking about, or that my friends will get mad at me for not answering their emails sooner (or not commenting on their blogs), or that I'll not complete all the computer work I need to do.

But yesterday morning, I decided that it's all right. I can't do everything. And I'd rather have a peaceful private life, with a few disgruntled friends who will understand when I explain, than have a "public" life with all my duckies in a row and a private life that's miserable.

I plan to start that series soon - the one I keep talking about. Maybe I'll start tomorrow. Maybe it will be the next day. Perhaps the first quality raised for discussion will be "peaceful." :)

I'm about to go off and play music with my siblings. I expect we'll have a bunch of fun together. But just before I go, I offer public apologizes to those of you to whom I owe an email or letter. Yes, you know exactly who you are! I could list names, but be assured I am thinking about each one of you, and...well, I will write when I can.

You have this comfort: at least until I write you, I constantly have you on my mind! :) (I mean that kindly.) :)

What about the rest of you? Do/did you have something in your life that is keeping you from being the peaceful, un-stressed lady you could be? Is/was it keeping you from showing Jesus-like love to others? What did you do/can you do to conquer it? I'd love discussion on this topic.