Allowing Space

How quickly does your week fill up? The term starts and once again it’s full swing back into school activities, after school activities, church activities and sport. We spend many hours in the car going from place to place, participating in wholesome, important and growing opportunities, but I wonder how often you get time to pause?

How much space is there in your day for the accidental? The shared conversation? The time to be really present?

I was encouraged this year to think about the idea of allowing margin in my day. To really be present to a space and some time that isn’t scheduled.  You might call it a little bit of wriggle room. But a little bit of wriggle room that might just let God in.

Too often, I’ve caught myself at the end of the day, saying prayers with my children and the thought has crossed my mind that this is the first time I’ve spoken with God today.

I’ve missed the opportunity to go visit my elderly neighbour because I thought I had more pressing things to get done.  I’ve forgotten that when my husband walks through the door, we’ve not shared the last 8 hours together and I diminish how he is feeling in my non-acknowledgement to ‘get dinner ready.’

Far too often, God is my last resort, or my non-thought or not on my ‘list’ until I’m desperate.  How can God get in when we fill our days to the full?

We can create space, or allow a time of margin.

We can plan for a time of day that centres on him. It might be just once a week, but it’s a wonderful small step. Think about the things that really influence your faith – reading the Bible, praying, being in nature, walking along the beach, singing songs of worship etc.

Where is the space you feel most is connected with God? Jesus showed us that time alone was important to his relationship with God, and he also showed us the time with others is important in growing in our relationship together and with God.

Allowing space in my week for myself and more space for my family has become such a blessing. It has become something I yearn more and more for.  I pray it becomes your breathing space too, and a blessing for your family.

Rachel Schilling