I’m still struggling to find a balance in my work schedule. I feel guilty when I don’t substitute teach, but when I do I don’t have time for anything else. And it always works that the week I’m teaching two days I have no articles due, but as soon as I schedule four days, I need to write four articles. Ugh. The two things that always get shoved aside – my manuscript and reading.

I’ve been forcing myself to work on my MS, but last week my brain fizzled, popped, then stopped. I couldn’t think anymore. Frustrated, I picked up my book (so I would at least be doing SOMETHING).

Ahhh…

How could I forgot how wonderful it feels to sit down and read, not research for an article or a recipe from a cook book, just reading for me. What a joy!

It’s so easy to buy into this crazy American belief that we need to go-go-go all of the time. If you aren’t busy, you’re lazy. Productive people work 70+ hours a week, then volunteer, make dinner from scratch, keep an immaculate house, exercise 60 minutes a day, blah, blah, blah.

What about being still? Isn’t it interesting that God didn’t say, “Stay busy, and then you’ll know Me.” He said to be still … and know that He is God.

And so I’ve been trying to be still. Yes, in my still times I pick up a book, but I’m reading my Bible (how sweet to just open and read!) and a fabulous book that I’m going to review for BookSneeze (spiritual/Christian living). To take some time to sit back and just read these is fresh air, cool water, a warm hug – it’s everything that refreshes and invigorates me.

And since I’ve been making time to sit back and read (especially making time for the Word), I’ve gotten so much more written (almost 2,000 words in my MS this week). I’m more relaxed…calm…happy.

It’s so easy to get wrapped up in “stuff” that I forget why I even started writing in the first place – because there’s nothing quite like sitting down and enjoying a good book.