Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Right Lane Living

As the day progressed yesterday, I thought from time to time about blogging. Obviously, I did not get to it. I did not get to much. For a long time now, I have not gotten much sleep. I am physically exhausted. I drag myself through each day, sometimes getting little accomplished. When I do get things accomplished, it is often for someone else and not for me.

Yes, I know that I am usually positive and upbeat, and I make a point to enjoy life. However, I am entitled to not be "up" once in a while. Now is one of those times. In additional to being physically exhausted, I feel mentally weary. (They probably go hand-in-hand.) I feel like I am always going, encouraging, supporting, reaching out to others...but who is there to reach out to me and my family?

I know, I know. It is better to give than receive -- and I (we) believe that -- yet sometimes it is lonely feeling like no one cares back. I know, I know. Lots of people care. Blah, blah, blah.

Sometimes I miss the days of my youth. Neighbors looked out for one another, friends stopped by, people invited you to their place for dinner or to visit.

Growing up, we lived on a circle, and almost everyone on the entire street knew each other. The children played together. The parents knew the other children and their parents. It was a community. These days, though we know the neighbors directly around us, we do not know many beyond that. To those that we do know, we may wave in passing, if that. There is no community.

Growing up, we had friends. Friends would ring your doorbell and ask if you wanted to go outside and play. Friends would invite you to their home for dinner, to watch a movie, to play games, to just enjoy one another's company. These days, if you are blessed enough to even have any friends, they are often too busy. Life has gotten so rushed. People take on so much and are often scurrying to get to the next thing.

I think that I am going to coin the phrase "Right Lane Living." (Unless anyone beat me to it?) We need to get back into the slow lane, relax, see where we are now and not be in such a mad, tense hurry to get wherever we think we are going.

Why are we in such an hurry, after all? Is it really so important that you are two car lengths farther up the road that you need to cut someone off? Is it really so important that you arrive ninety seconds earlier that you need to run that red light, potentially putting your family and others in danger? Is it really so important that you say what you want to say that you cannot wait until the other person finishes their sentence? Is it really so important to get through your day that you you cannot pause to realize that you are not the only person in your day? Is anything really so important? (I mean, unless you drive an ambulance or a fire truck.)

Maybe you agree with me. Maybe you think that I am just whining. Either way is fine.

5 comments:

  1. awwww! ((Big Hugs!!)) I care about you and your family! I agree! Life has become so rushed, often times we don't get a chance to "stop and smell the roses". That is why for the last week, I have taken the time to do just that! Yes, I have fallen behind on some of my housework... but you know, it feels really nice to be able to spend the whole day outside in the garden while watching my kids run around and play! While I feel a lot more TIRED this week by doing this (prolly cuz Im just not used to it! LOL), at the end of the day, I feel good inside, knowing I took it easy and didnt stress over trying to get the house looking immaculate, but instead, spending more time with my family than I have in a long while. It was long overdue!

    Just remember one thing, Dm... If you ever need a friend to just sit and listen to you...you know how to reach me! I might talk a lot, but I am also a great listener!

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  2. Dm, I think a lot of people feel the same way at times but just don't know how to put what they are feeling into words. You do this so well!! I really like reading your blog because it makes me think!! Hope you are feeling better today!! And will try to do a little "Right Lane Living" myself!!

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  3. At times I have to stop and look around. I get so caught up in my lfe and the things I need to get done. I like the "right lane living" phrase you got! I have to slow my pace sometimes, besides that is when we miss God working in our lives. When we are "busy" with life we don't hear God's vioce or even see his beautiful creation.

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  4. I was just thinking this today. I am soo busy. But so what? What is more important than God? It is so easy to get sidetracked in life. It goes so fast. Last night my 8 year old son fell asleep in my arms. I realized it was a gift from above. That is what truly is important.

    I don't think you were whining. I personally like it when people in churches and public forums speak from the heart and tell us they struggle just like us. All you did was make it easier to relate. That is a gift.

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