I stumbled across the book Breathe: Creating a Space for God in a Hectic Lifewhile browsing PaperBackSwap.com for decor books.� It turned out to be a fantastic book and exactly what I needed to read, although I have no idea why it popped up when it did.� {Que creepy music.}� I’ve compiled a few of my favorite passages from the book that I would like to share–perhaps it will give you something to think about, too?
On packed schedules…
Despite the fact that a doctor is telling us that to hurry will cause us to feel fatiqued or depressed, gain weight, and lose interest in sex, we still find it hard to slow down. Why?� I think it is in part because we believe the lie that “if I am busy, I must be important.”
On how we identify ourselves…
It’s as if we believe that our value comes from what we do. […] Our value comes not from what we do but from who we are.
On rushing through our lives…
There are times we need to prod children to get going, but often we push them even if there is nowhere we have to be and absolutely no reason to hurry.
On clinging to our hectic lives…
We live in a culture focused on doing.� That’s one reason so many of us wrestle with being a parent: time with our kids doesn’t seem like we are producing anything.� To ruthlessly eliminate hurry would make us feel “unproductive,” which we’re afraid is actually a sin.� We’d also have to actually be a parent, to connect with our kids, and we’re not sure we can do that well. We don’t know how to measure our success there, so again, we feel unproductive, which is very uncomfortable.
On material possessions…
Waste lies not in the number of possessions but in the failure to enjoy them.� Your success at being frugal is measured not by your penny-pinching but by your degree of enjoyment of the material world.
On humility…
[…] pace yourself so that your family gets your best.
If I am being honest, I would have to say this book dropped in my lap because I have a fair bit to learn from the pages inside.
Nichole says
I love it when stuff like that happens. Your guardian angel was looking out for you. It sounds like a wonderful book.
erinn says
I added it to my goodreads list. Thx for mentioning it. I don’t know how I came across your blog, but I am enjoying it and your sense of humor. :)
Libby Unwin says
Oh man. Guilty as charged. Thanks for the post.
Ariel says
wow…I soooo needed this, today!
Kelly says
Sounds like a great book! I’m also adding it to the “to read” list.
I think also we keep busy & hurry up & buy things because if we slowed down to see who we really are, what really composes us, well, that scares us (me).
3 Stinky Boys and Me says
I just put this on my list at the library. I look forward to reading more. Thanks for the post!
esther says
Thanks for the sharing…this book sounds like a good read. We all need to slow down , life gets so hectic and we just somehow get trapped in the hurriness, and forget to BREATH.
Keri says
I love this! Sometimes, all we need is a new perspective:-)!!
squidart says
So glad I stumbled on this post. Perfect reminder to slow down and breathe…
Erin @ Fierce Beagle says
I needed to hear all of this right now. Perhaps I should get the book, too.