"Work is not always required....there is such a thing as sacred idleness, the cultivation of which is now fearfully neglected." - George MacDonald
Be assured, I did not neglect sacred idleness today. I am not sure if the past few days have been a residue of the treatment Tuesday, the full moon or just my body wanting rest....but I hit the wall today. I meant to do laundry, to clean house, to work in the yard........well, I did buy groceries.....and I walked.....and visited a friend who is sick. But mostly, I kept the sofa company. It just looked kinda lost, and really comfy......and I think I heard it calling my name.
If anyone cultivated sacred idleness today, it was me. It was not even about picking up a good book to read......more like flip through a few pages of a magazine, watch the birds at the feeders, pet the dogs, nap, eat, nap.....I assure you all, sacred idleness thrived in Empire, Alabama today.....and if anyone needs classes.....just call me, I can teach you!
A few years ago, if I had spent the day as I did today, I would have been overcome with guilt.....not anymore, I am learning......yes it is hard.....but I am learning. Watching the birds,
looking up at the clear blue sky, petting the dogs......there is sacredness there. Sometimes the soul is so much hungrier than the body, and we don't even know it. I think I fed my soul today, and who knows I may feed it again tomorrow! Cultivating sacred idleness is difficult for most of us, I think we all have this fear of stillness, of doing nothing......we think someone may call us lazy, or worthless.....and maybe they will, but at this point....it no longer matters.
Tomorrow is Sunday, for most to feed your soul means some sort of church service.....but what if you stayed home, watched the birds, took a walk, looked up at the sky, took a nap and experienced stillness.....cultivated sacred idleness.....ate some simple fresh food for lunch......and not worry about the fact that you lost an hour tonight. Is that too radical to even think about?
My friend John once told me he didn't know of a better church anywhere than the outdoors, that he thought God heard prayers a lot better when you were outside.
Cultivating sacred idleness, it takes some courage, a leap of faith, but it is ever so worth it.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
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I have learned the lesson of idleness but not sacred idleness and there is a huge difference between the two. I need to concentrate harder on decreasing that difference.
ReplyDeleteHi Jilda,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your very kind words about losing our sweet pup, Holdie. It is the sensitivity and love of friends that helps get us through dark times.
Hope you are feeling better and recharging your batteries.
Loves~
If it wasn't for a husband who just can't let "sleeping dogs lie" I could be sacredly idle each and every day. lol.
ReplyDeleteToo often we feel that time spent idle is time wasted. It's hard to teach ourselves otherwise.
ReplyDeleteI like how you call it sacred idleness!! Sometimes I can procrastinate for England! Seriously, I quite love those days when you can just do exactly what you want to do, even if it's very little. Thank you so much for popping over to see me and leaving a comment on the International Womans' Day post. It was really good to see you. Take care.
ReplyDeleteYou've described my everyday life here. I feel guilty somedays but then again I think...I paid my dues and I'm entitled to rest my body. It hurts!! The cleaning and laundry will be there when we get to it. I like to sit outside on nice days and listen to the birds, stare at the sky and tree tops and meditate. It's my sacred idleness! Hugs pretty lady.
ReplyDeleteThis does not mean, necessarily, letting down your guard and pouring your heart out about how much you love your grandmother. You have to find the right balance, and with practice you'll discover it. If you're having second thoughts about writing something in your blog that might be crossing the line, it's best to err on the side of caution and leave it out.
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