In lou of the new year, I wanted to talk about resolutions or not doing resolutions, starting new or over or just staying the same. The past couple years I’ve heard more people talking about this and the percentages of people that actually keep their resolutions (it is low, quite low). In other circles I’ve heard talks of operating in a reflection of nature and how we should be taking this season to rest as nature does. Last year I somewhat adapted this to my life. I didn’t set any goals or resolutions and just tried to rest. However, now that I look back I think I just used it as a reason to not do anything at all. “I’m following the seasons! I’m resting while the world is, spring and summer are full speed ahead, I’ve earned the right to lay on the couch.” Though I am never opposed to a good afternoon nap, I look back and can see that I was pretty idle. And as much as I’d like to think that being idle is all that rest is, the Bible tells us differently…
“She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” Proverbs 31:27
All this brings me what I’ve been mulling over the last couple of weeks. How do we allow a period of rest in this winter season without being idle? Of course this will look different for everyone, but I think for me, it possibly looks like more days at home and less running. Trying to honor the Lord with my time in the home he has given me to steward. I also think this could hopefully allow more time for the things I’d love to do but are hard to manage in the full speed ahead of seasons like spring and summer. When I look at my year as a whole, Winter (really mid January through May) is the only really slow time. Spring is filled with up-potting seedlings, starting late season seeds, waking the garden beds up and spring household cleaning. Summer is pretty much garden madness, great and rewarding, but surely the busiest time of the year! Then following fall and early wintering with preserving and the holidays. There’s something assigned each season that requires an uptick in work and pace, which leaves little time for that new skill I’d love to sharpen. Or the slow afternoons on the couch reading to my daughter. The crafts that do take a little extra patience from me (and I’m sure you too lol). Winter turns into this quiet season that lends itself to these hard to reach pleasures. I’m starting to see how God built in this special season that I’ve failed to notice before. Maybe rest doesn’t mean doing nothing most of the time, maybe it just means intentionally slowing down… but not stopping. Making space for things and desires that get pushed aside in busier seasons.
I am sure that this is far from revolutionary to some, but for me, and maybe you, this could be the start of something really wonderful. Just writing this I feel a familiar excitement I’ve had in past Januaries, yet without the weight of the don’t quit pressure or the fear of failing. Just excitement for permission to slow down my schedule and freedom to spend my afternoon sewing without guilt or reading all afternoon to Juniper. What a gift this could be if only we could learn to be intentional with it.
So here is to new beginnings and slow expectations. Pulling out the half filled journal instead of a new, all inclusive planner. Finishing the quilting project you started long ago instead of filling your evening with more plans. Here is to being restful, but not idle.
Cheers, my friend, until next time,
Erin
The Simple Pursuit Mama 
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