Cream Cheese & Angels?
It strikes me that this group uses food a lot in our analogies. However, this is actually about the Philadelphia Cream Cheese commercial! Have you seen it? It’s two lady angels - one is running around because she over-slept. Her friend angel slows her down with a bagel & cream cheese. She exclaims “That slowed you down!.” Where were you going anyway? “To a killer white sale… the crowds can be devilish.” Funny stuff.
Maybe because it was way too early, it got me thinking. What’s it going to be like when we have no clocks, no static time, no oversleeping, no rushing, etc. (Not to mention no white sales - but I’m not even going to get started on THAT!!)
I’m realistic - we have jobs, school, church services, etc. There is no way for these things to occur without setting a date and time. But, heaven, HEAVEN will definitely be no rushing. When my baby is crying because she doesn’t want me to leave to go to work, I can just say “OK”!
I wonder… Where can we slow down? Where could you simplify your life? Where could you spend time in those activities which are good for your soul? Please join the conversation and share your ideas with us!
-Submitted by Beth N.-
- Written by Alicia Hemphill
September 4th, 2007 at 8:28 am
I know I can slow down when I am better organized. I have such a busy life because it gives me purpose, but the unnecessary parts are almost always caused when I am unorganized. I can only slow down but so much, and then I just become useless.
September 4th, 2007 at 9:10 am
This topic requires me to constantly think of ways to do this is in my own life. My life and it’s circumstances and needs change frequently enough that slowing down and keeping “God” room will have to remain flexible and move with those ever-changing elements. It mostly demands time to pay attention to ways I can adjust my schedule to add these times and occasionally eliminate time sucking activities that aren’t really necessary.
A great example of this process is now evident in my schedule as my son moved to college and my daughter moved home. She is currently planning another trip abroad which will mean more adjusting in my daily life. I am trying to take advantage of quiet moments but not always “filling” them up with friends, entertainment and TV. Looking for these opportunities is essential in my success at slowing down, being with God and hearing his voice, but I am finding they are life giving and life sustaining events.
A detailed example of this occurrence is now on the weekends I can suddenly have several days of “aloneness”. I also have quiet times in the car as I drive to Charlotte while visiting my son. Just being aware of the need to slow down, I can plan to make this my time to have the radio, TV, phone, and other noise makers off and simply make time to have “tea” time with God. I laughingly pray and ask him to coffee quite often! Now, whether he prefers Caribou to Starbucks doesn’t really concern me, but my efforts are simply that I make the time to invite him. Sometimes when I am feeling stressed the right music CD will help me settle down in my spirit whether I need to sing out and praise God or just let the music soothe my weary soul!
Maybe next time you are out, you can invite him to join you as well. Think about times where you repeatedly do activities like drinking coffee where it would lend itself time with God. Ask yourself about the ways that slow you down, bring you quietness and add to your peace.
September 4th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Thank you for writing this Alicia… even while I was reading this, I was trying to figure out when I would have time to comment. I have been trying, over and over again, to find the time to fit God into my life more. I feel like I am getting jipped by only speaking to Him in the last minutes of my day. However, I know that is when He gets the most of me. It’s when my mind is trying to calm itself.
With 2 jobs, a sickly animal, worrying about finances, wondering when I will get to see my infant niece again… friends, my boyfriend, doctor’s appointments, work, work, work… trying to visit and care for my Evergreen family. Have we signed the petition to add extra hours to the day yet??
September 5th, 2007 at 8:01 am
Kerry - LOL - I only want extra hours if they are at night and I get to sleep.
It may sound silly but don’t over-look the time in the car and the time in the shower or even brushing your teeth. If you try to committ even little chunks of time to God it will add up… and everytime you talk to God ask for more time with him (bet you’ll find it) …smooches
September 5th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Beth N. wrote it. I just put it up on the blog…and edited out a few exclamation points!!
No way would I add hours to the day. We would just fill them with even more things to do. And I, for one, would just end up even more behind than I am already. I guess what I am trying to learn to do is recognize that God has only given me 24 hours each day, and I need to spend at least 9 of them sleeping. After that, if everything doesn’t fit, then I’m trying to do something(s) that God has not given to me to do. That being said, I am currently struggling with this issue like I’ve never struggled. The irony is, I am a stay at home mom with both children in school. I think time is like money. Without intentional discipline, the more we have, the more we’ll spend. So, I’m off to budget my time to the nearest penny.
September 9th, 2007 at 6:06 pm
I tried budgeting my time once. I started by recording what I spent my time doing. This was in DC. I was astonished to realize that I needed to create 2 categories I had never considered: driving time and waiting time. (Waiting time: in the doctor’s office, waiting to meet people for food/entertainment, etc).
I’ve found that a budget for time is more about classifying than writing out the actual time. I figure out a few major things that must go in my day, and then I find where they fit. For example, I hate showering 2 times a day, but if I work out in the PM, it’s 2 showers. So I work out before I shower. I want to find time for creative writing, but I just can’t do it in the morning or afternoon. So it fits in the evening, before I go to bed. I make a list of the really important things, arrange them, and then let go of other things. If I have time to vacuum and clean, great. If not, oh well.
But of course, I am very lucky not to work. I suspect that when I get a job my life will need some serious re-balancing!