illustration of a planning calendar for a regular week (not mine)
Today I was struck by how all the 'usually's go out of the window when it's a bank holiday, or when it's the school holidays in general. Lots of my 'usually's have been tousled around to the extent that I'm not even sure what day it is of late!
Usually Mondays and Fridays are my rest days, and Sundays after church are blessed and busy with the little people, but during the holidays they've been able to play and stay mid-week, and we've had roast dinners and children sleep-overs on Fridays, leaving me quite disoriented!
I love the mix-up, the holidays and the doing it all differently.
A change is certainly as good as a rest.
But the holidays are coming to an end and I'm beginning to mentally prepare again for the 'usually's. For the groups on Tuesdays and Thursdays, for the routines and the back to 'normal' pattern of the weeks.
The 'usually's structure the days, the weeks, the months and the years and our long, medium and short-term planning fits around those general routines and flexible structures, by which we fit into our lives all those people, places and tasks that we have been called to do, or chosen to do with our lives.
'Usually's are designed to be comfortable structures – supportive, reassuring, helpful, but not so rigid as to be restrictive – like a soft, comfy pillow.
I am grateful for the routines and structures and grateful too for the flexibility, chaos and spontaneity of the holidays.
There are some 'usually'-s that, whatever the season, I like to keep as part of my day – my spiritual disciplines, if you like, and my health disciplines. My physical, mental and spiritual health and well-being needs to retain certain self-care 'usually'-s, in order to carry me through the holidays in good health.
Though Jesus's days were not recorded in great detail, the scriptures do make it clear that Jesus probably had some 'usually'-s.
He would regularly go away to a quiet spot to pray.
He spoke about "When you pray… When You fast… When you give alms…", suggesting that these were a part of usual life for children of God.
Usually they would go to the festivals in Jerusalem too.
I find these usually-s particularly comforting in my life, though I often have to check in that they do not become empty, 'religious' activities, but remain alive, intentional, spirit-guided blessings in my life.
Our disciplines are intended as blessing, not burden.
I'm reminded of Jesus saying that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. (Mark 2:27)
Rather, His intention is -
I came to give life with joy and abundance.
John 10:10
Most Fridays, I join an online Christian writing community, Five Minute Friday. We are given a one-word prompt and write – unscripted, unedited, pure free-write – for 5 minutes. The prompt this week is USUALLY.
I do read through my script afterwards to correct my mistakes; to check scripture references and to find an appropriate image to illustrate the topic.
To read other FMF posts on this subject click BELOW.
Join the link-up and read other posts here
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