Putting an End to “The Crazies”

Our lives have been on the crazy cycle for several months. We are usually pretty busy people, but the past few weeks have been a whirlwind with our son in his senior year of high school, writing and editing a book, learning how to navigate the social media world of Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, making a video documentary and travelling all over the country to capture people’s stories. I found myself absolutely exhausted and our house looked like a disaster zone because we were never home long enough to pick anything up.

I’m good at being on the go.

For a while, anyway.

I can go, go, go and then my body physically crashes! Big Time!

I struggle with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia, and my body can only do so much for so long before it comes out of remission and throws me into a tailspin. I’ve had to learn my limits over the years, but honestly, sometimes life just comes at me and those limits get pushed through the roof.

I desperately needed a break from “The Crazies.”

Last week we were blessed to be able to go on a cruise to the warm, crystal blue waters of the Caribbean. We were blanketed with warm sunshine, gentle breezes and all the food we could eat.

The very first day, David and I went to the spa for a hot stone massage. What a terrific way to begin to unwind and relax. Then I went to the upper deck, in the very front of the ship and settled into a blue canvas lounge chair where I set up shop for several hours. All I did was lay on that chair, read a Christian fiction suspense novel, and nod off. On occasion I would set the book down and just sit there, gazing around me. David would ask if I wanted to go explore something on the ship and I declined. All I wanted to do was sit there. My body, and I believe more importantly, my soul, needed me to just have the time to sit, to be still and to just take it all in. I was finally able to just breathe.

As our vacation was coming to a close and we were enjoying a meal together, David brought up the fact that we needed to look at our priorities again. In all the rushing about the past few weeks our priorities had gotten a bit messed up. We were so busy and caught up doing so many projects and work-related activities that we’d become disconnected, not only from one another but also from God. My tongue had gotten sharp at times, my patience worn quite thin. I’d quit spending time on a regular basis in God’s Word because I’d let “The Crazies” set the tone of my days. My entire life was out of balance.

Being able to just have the uninterrupted time to sit and soak up life along with some sunshine provided me with a sense of peace and direction that I need to begin my days with truth again so I can tackle what comes my way throughout the day. I needed David to remind me to put God first, then my husband, and then our kiddos and activities. I’m hoping to find that balance once we settle back into our routines at home.

While I pray that someday I don’t have to crash in order to come to this realization, I’m so grateful to be reminded of what is most important in life.I hope that today, in the midst of whatever your “crazies” are, you find space to rest and to be reminded that making a living is far less important than making a life.