I am firm believer that all people can learn from those who have gone before us and we can learn from the journey of people around us…for better or for worse. I recently read “Wouldn’t Take Nothing For My Journey Now” By Maya Angelou. This book is just that; thoughts and insight from Maya’s journey in life. This blog entry is going to contain a few thoughts from her book and my hope and prayer is that you are able to take these thoughts and reflect on your journey and God’s presence in your life this day.
“Each of us has the right and the responsibility to assess the roads which lie ahead, and those over which we have traveled, and if the future road looms ominous or unpromising, and the roads back uninviting, then we need to gather our resolve and, carrying only the necessary baggage, step off that road into another direction.” (page 24)
“Life is pure adventure, and the sooner we realize that, the quicker we will be able to treat life as art: to bring all our energies to each encounter, to remain flexible enough to notice and admit when what we expected to happen did not happen.” (page 66)
“We must re-create an attractive and caring attitude in our homes and in our worlds. If our children are to approve of themselves, they must see that we approve of ourselves. If we persist in self-disrespect and then ask our children to respect themselves, it is as if we break all their bones and then insist that they win Olympic gold medals for the hundred-yard dash. Outrageous.” (page 103)
“If we step away for a time, we are not, as many may think and some will accuse, being irresponsible, but rather we are preparing ourselves to more ably perform our duties and discharge our obligations.” (page 139)
PONDER THIS: Read the last quote again. How do you take time away from what is normal? How do you take time away from your routine to just be, to relax, and to recharge? Have you done this before? If so, how did you feel when you returned to your regular routine? If you have not had a true Sabbath time, why not?
This is Sabbath, when God created the world, he also took a day of rest; something that is long lost in our society today. Use a sharpie marker to put Sabbath time in your planner and on your calendar each week.
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