reserving time

A couple weeks ago one of the pastor's encouraged us to not always be in such a hurry. The community where we live is unique in that there is an extremely high rate of unemployment leaving many people available and willing to talk at any time. However, many of the members of our church are people who have moved into the community and have jobs and have a tendency to do life in a hurry. It seems like we are always in a hurry to get here or there and do this or that. So the challenge was to carve out time before and after things so that if there is an opportunity to connect with a neighbor or someone in the community you don't have that feeling that you don't have time. So what does it look like to not pack our days with things to do and leave time for the unknown? For me it can often feel like my day looks unproductive- I like to get things done! So if there's a block of time that I don't know what to do with I feel a little stressed- which is so backwards! Shouldn't I feel free and thankful!?! So I have had it in the back of my mind to not have so many planned activities. Well today the kids and I were walking to church (just like every Sunday) and we were more than on time (which is normal when it's just me home). So the boys were walking and I was pushing the stroller (because they are so exhausted after church I don't have them walk home) and I had Lily on my back in the carrier... so we're walking and Bentley found trash (surprise, surprise). Initially I said, "Icky!" and made it him throw it back on the ground. So another unique thing about our community is that it often feels like a giant trash bin. Daily I see people throw chip bags and trash out the car door window. The parks are littered with wrappers and the streets have trash all along the sides. There are so many reasons for this (without excuse) and I may get into that on another post- but for now I'll stick to my point! So we're walking and I just kept feeling like it was a teachable moment of what to do when we see trash on the ground. So I took the boys back and we picked up the chip bag and walked across the street to where there is a garbage can and threw it away. I felt like it was a really good lesson for the boys to learn that we don't litter the streets with trash. But what I really enjoyed about the experience is that we had time for this teachable moment. So often I am zipping from one thing to the other that I don't have time to stop and use the teachable moments wisely. I am really trying to not go with the culture and pack my life with activities. I want to live a more relaxed life with opportunities to help pick up trash, or plant flowers, or sit in the sun, or talk to a neighbor without feeling rushed. Also living in a slower paced life allows the kids to do things on their own- get dressed, put on their shoes, feed themselves, get in the car alone, walk instead of ride in the stroller, help with chores around the house, etc... My tendency is to do it for them because I can do it quickly and without making a mess- while they in their learning state- are super slow and make tons of messes! So anyway, all that to say one of my current desires is to reserve time for the unknown and enjoy what God does in my life when I don't plan because it all comes back to trusting Him and believing that I will have time and will accomplish things- even when it doesn't seem that way.