I am a creature of habit. But with this new, upcoming retirement thing,  I’m going to experience change in my life that is oh so different than any I’ve ever experienced before. I need to know how to deal with this. I need to prepare my heart.

For instance, a couple of weeks ago, I had a preview of what my mornings would be like in retirement. I had the whole week off, with mornings free. I was having my normal time in God’s word and prayer. An odd thing happened as I neared the end of my 2^nd cup of coffee. I noticed a little knot forming in the pit of my stomach. A small hard rock of anxiety.

What on earth? 

There was no reason for me to be anxious.  I wasn’t working. I had the whole week off! But my brain associated the end of my coffee, with time to Go! Time to get ready for work, hop in the car and Drive at supersonic speeds to beat the traffic and get to work on time! RUSH RUSH RUSH! I was anxious, because it was “time” and here I was lollygagging over God’s word (Oh! The joys of lollygagging over scripture!).

My poor brain will need to be re-trained!

Our grand-dog came over later in the week for me to pup-sit. It was just me and Romo, sitting on the back porch. So, of course I asked him – don’t judge, if you had a grandpup as cute and smart as mine, you would talk to him, too.

“Romo, how does one just be, and not DO all the time?”

He glanced at me for a second or two, then went back to his important task of just being. I watched him. Romo didn’t feel the need to jump up just because he heard my voice. He knew I would nudge him if it was time to go in. He didn’t move when a bird flew past, or another dog barked in the neighborhood. He just sat, watched, and listened to the sights and sounds of this new world of his.

Imagine that. Being still and observing the world around me. Not worrying about being productive or doing more. Just sitting. Hanging out with my Master. 

Hmmmm. 

You know what? I’m pretty sure I can do that, with a little work.

I just have to let my brain know that it’s okay. No worries. Sit a spell. Relax. Lollygag over the Word. Not to mention that second cuppa. Move from the “doing” of a Martha, to the “being” of a Mary. Teaching my brain that it’s okay to sit quietly before God.

 

Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. Psalm 62:5 (NLT)

 

How do you switch from doing to being? Leave a comment, I’d love to hear your ideas – no, I NEED your ideas!

Grace be with you,