Life is not a check off list

When my wife and I talked about what we’d do while in NYC for two days over Memorial Day weekend, it was tempting to lay out an itinerary of places we wanted to see, and then hoof it around from one place to the other until we worked our way down the desired list.

But we also wanted to enjoy our time together and not be hurried by a jammed schedule of things to do. So we decided that our goal was not to “do things,” but to enjoy each other’s company and let the spirit move us as it willed.

So we made a list of sights we’d like to see, but set no schedule as to when or how.

You must understand that letting go of a schedule is a major accomplishment for me. I’ve always been strong on order and planning out things ahead of time to avoid mishaps. But I’m also learning that there is a higher order already in place that I can trust to appear in a timely way. I don’t have to know ahead of time what the Big Plan is except to know there is one and it’s very good--a scheme much better than I could ever figure out myself.

So, I put Evan’s planning aside, and trusted God’s planning.

Kathy was happy to agree!

Saturday morning, we decided to walk through Central Park and eventually end up at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

As we strolled through the park at a leisurely pace watching the young children play, the ducks swimming in the ponds, the musicians playing their instruments, boats floating in the boat pond, and hard working citizens taking a well-earned moment to relax and soak in some sun, I rejoiced in seeing more clearly that life is not a check-off list of jobs and tasks that need to be done.

Pond in Central Park where part of Stuart Little was filmed

Lists can help keep order, but they are not the end-all and be-all of existence. Life is so much more than human tasks accomplished.

Life is a spiritual experience, not a check-off list.

Life is about feeling close to God and practicing love.

Life is not things we have to do. Life is what we ARE doing!

Life is love lived.

I felt a lot of love while meandering down the paths and around the bends of Central Park last Saturday. And I believe it was easier to feel because I had put a preconceived agenda of what to do that day totally aside. We were letting the Spirit move us, and the effect was one of no strain or stress, no hurry or rush, but peace, calm, quiet, restfulness—love felt.

Jesus let the Spirit move him, but he also had a strong sense of order in his life. He knew he had a mission to accomplish. He knew what his Father-Mother expected of him, and he worked hard to be a faithful son. But he also mentally dwelt at that happy median of trusting the Spirit to lead him each day and move him in a progressive direction. He didn’t humanly schedule his life, but spiritually lived it.

Some people have no problem forsaking lists, but then they struggle with finding order. I am looking for the happy median--order--but freedom too.

It is comforting to understand that God’s plan is better than mine.

It certainly was comforting last weekend!

We still visited a large number of places in two days, but at Spirit’s restful pace, and not in a mortal mind hurried race. The weekend was truly a delightful time.

Getting enough sleep

“How do I get a good night’s sleep?” tired people are asking.

Sleep has turned into big business in the United States, according to Forbes magazine. Millions of slumber-seekers are turning to pills, therapies, sleep labs, gimmicks, expensive mattresses and products promising better rest. Yet, the problem of sleep-deprivation continues to grow.

A spiritual solution is needed.

Rest is not a state of unconsciousness. True rest is a peaceful and harmonious state of spiritual consciousness.

Anxious, fearful, self-centered thoughts torpedo attempts to rest. They keep one awake, disturbed and concerned about tomorrow. Spiritually inspired thoughts, focused on the omnipotence and omnipresence of God, are peaceful objects of attention that calm and rest perspective.

When it comes to getting better sleep, the primary need is not for more hours of unconsciousness, but for a more spiritually inspired consciousness.

Go to bed with peaceful thoughts of God in control of your life, and you will wake with peaceful thoughts of God in control of your life. The slumber from beginning to end will be restful.

“When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.”

What to do with downtime

Americans have more leisure time then ever, but don’t know how to use it to their advantage, the Washington Post reports in the article, “Leisure overload?”

Over the decades, workers have become more productive, wages have risen, hours worked per week have decreased and discretionary time has increased. But many feel more stressed out and anxious than ever. Why the contradiction? One might ask.

Could it be we need more spirituality-based activity in our leisure time?

Have you ever gone on a long vacation and come back home more tired than before you left? I have, and I learned from the experience that a true vacation is not getting away from a job sight or home front. It’s getting away from burdensome thoughts and perspectives.

Enduring rest doesn’t come from tanning on the beach or walking through the woods. Genuine rest comes from soaking in spiritual inspiration and gaining new spiritual insights. One can do these things while lying on the beach or walking through the forest, but without some type of spiritual improvement and regeneration, these activities have little positive effect.

Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “God rests in action….The highest and sweetest rest, even from a human standpoint, is in holy work.”

It’s easy to fill leisure time with endless ways of entertaining the material senses. But the effect of sensual over-indulgence typically leaves one feeling empty and wanting. I've found that the more fulfilling way is to fill those hours with activity that brings me closer to God and feeling more spiritually minded. The fresh inspiration we gain stays with us long after the hours seeking it have passed!

So, when you're looking for something to do with your next day off, seek out your spiritual options, and plan accordingly. The good effect from being spiritually productive will take you up a few notches in the scale of true happiness and leave you feeling genuinely rested for the effort.