As LDS sisters, we are all on the go all the time. We are constantly juggling family, work, marriage, writing, church responsibilities, provident living, preparation for the future, scripture study, FHE, the list can go on and on. And we live in a 24/7 world now. The world doesn't slow down at night any more. We can stay up in the wee hours of the morning connected to the world and to each other. There seems to be a steady drumbeat of hurry, hurry, hurry.
I know I am at a place in my life where my weekends have become more hectic than my work week. I have 4 callings, this Sunday, I'll be teaching twice. It seems I can't get through one moment of life much less find time for writing.
My writing lately has been fairly nonexistent. My co author thinks I've wandered off the reservation and nothing I write seems to fit in. It's not writer's block so much as missing the point of a scene. So after yet another fruitless night, I decided to place in the hands of my Heavenly Father and see what He had to say.
The word "just wait" came to my mind several times since that heartfelt but very tired prayer (sinus infection doesn't help the cause here). Wait, I can't wait, I don't have time, there's too much to do, if I just can't write right now I'll have to postpone the whole thing. There's other stuff I can be doing. Maybe it is a form of writer's block.
But then the still small voice said, "waiting is not putting it on the backburner, waiting is something very different, something very active." In the stillness of an early morning, I think I may be getting this. Just wait until the inspiration, the will, the physical strength and the mental focus.
It's like my approach to yoga. I love the moves, don't have time for the comtemplation. And yet the Lord has answered my prayer...
What amazing insight, Terri! I am going to be thinking about this all week. "Waiting...something very active." Cool! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kari--what a great insight about waiting and how the Lord knows & helps us with the righteous desires of our hearts.
ReplyDeleteI love this, Terry! You put so well into words the meaning of the prompting, "just wait". I've been struggling with getting my next book of the ground, too. I'm hoping that all the "waiting" I've been forced to do will actually turn to my good with greater inspiration than I might have had before. Thanks for sharing this wonderful post!
ReplyDeleteGreat post and wise advice, Terri. I too get impatient and I try to force something onto paper when the inspiration is thin. I've really been inspired by Elder Bednar's latest CES fireside, "Things as They Really Are." It was a real wake-up call to me about balance and priorities. Articles and books will wait. Some things, and some people, won't. Thanks for a second alarm!
ReplyDeleteGreat post Terri!
ReplyDeleteEverything in it's own time. I've gotten to be a little more patient, then other times I'm not.
I too hear those words from my Heavenly Father, it's hard to listen and obey.
Thanks for the reminder.
I'm waiting...again. Only today I'll put a smile on my face - and go look up the previous mentioned Bednar talk.
Recently, the theme of waiting hit me in the temple. It's cool when you think about it. That scripture "I waited for the Lord" has all sorts of meanings.
ReplyDeletewow... a whole new paradigm shift:
ReplyDelete"Waiting is active." I LOVE IT!!