Do Something

Recently, a dear friend had eye surgery. The recovery process required him to basically be still for two weeks afterward.  He couldn’t engage in any type of movement that would put pressure on the eye.  It is amazing that you can’t do under those circumstances: bend down in any way, lift anything that weighs more than a gallon of milk, pick up something off the floor.

This friend is accustomed to being active.  When he is not working in public safety, he is volunteering someplace, fixing things around the house, etc.  Sitting still was not an easy thing for him.

𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲.  𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂?

When we talked yesterday, he was happy that his restrictions had been eased. He said, “I wasted so much time just sitting around for those two weeks, not doing anything.”

I reminded him of something my oldest sister told me after I had my partial knee replacement and I couldn’t leave the house for two weeks or do much. I told her that it was a waste of time, “I need to be doing something.”

She reminded me that I was doing something:  𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴.  𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝙙𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜.  I couldn't see what I was 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨, not did I have anything to immediately show for it.  But I was 𝙙𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 something.

Why is it that we often think that we need to be 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 something?  Why do we associate “doing” with physical activity, accomplishing something, or making progress on a project?  We even fill our free, relaxing time by doing something, such as reading, etc.  I bake.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 “𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴” 𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝙙𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜?  Such time can be an opportunity for physical healing, as in my friend’s case, or restoration, as we sit and clear our mind. 

As I write this, I am reminded of Psalm 46:10: “𝗕𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗚𝗼𝗱.”  Being still and doing nothing can be a time of spiritual growth, a chance to connect with whatever we consider to be our Higher Power.  It can be a time of self-discovery.  But, we need to be brave and not fear what we find.

I am in no way suggesting we give up our hobbies or other relaxing activities.  They are good for our soul and can themselves be restorative.  I love my baking and couldn’t live without it.  Nevertheless, we still have something to show for what we were doing during that time.

But, we need to allow ourselves to just “be,” to have a time when we are not engaging in physical activity or accomplishing something.  𝗪𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹, 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱, 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗱 “𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴” 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴.

➡️ When you compose your task or to-do list for today, this weekend, or next week, try to add “sit still,” if even for 15 minutes.  Give it a try.  𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗱, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴