On my small book shelf sits a little book titled, A Minute of Margin by Richard Swenson M.D. It's been tucked away for quite some time till yesterday when my soul was thirsting for a word of encouragement. Let me just give you a small piece of the introduction to the book for it alone is priceless wisdom.
Margin is like oxygen---everybody needs some. If we have too little, we suffer from the shortage. If we have too much, the excess will not benefit us additionally. But having the right amount permits us to breathe deeply.
Margin is the space, specifically the space between our load and our limit. It is this space that enhances vitality and resilience. It is the space that guarantees sustainability. It is in this space healing occurs, where our batteries recharged, where our relationships are nourished, and where wisdom is found.
We do not follow two inches behind the next car on the interstate...that would leave no margin for error. We do not load boats until they are submerged...that would invite disaster. Why then do we insist on leaving no buffer, no space, no reserves in our day to day?
Our enemy is also our beneficiary: progress. Progress is helpful but not pure. Even as progress results in many advantages, it is also accompanied by disadvantages. Progress bring blessings, but it also brings pain. Overload is a human condition.
Progress will continue to give us more, axiomatically leading to increasing stress, change, complexity, speed, intensity and overload. Such a list is not as negative as it might first appear, but it certainly implies that discernment must be used and priorities must be clear when choosing a future course of action.
We have limits as Christian just like everyone else. Once these limits are exceeded, we have no margin for prayer, for caring, for stillness, for community. That I have limits, of course, in no way means that God has limits.
The recent death of my husband's sister has caused me to think on how I spend my time in these early fall and winter years of my life. Cannot go back and recapture the past , cannot run ahead and capture the future. But I have today to live to my fullest or waste it on things that matter not or have no eternal value. Even the very words I write only have a tiny chance of even being read by others. Which is why I probably do not post much and spend much time on face to face relationships.
Has someone encouraged you today by their words, a hug, a face to face contact, a note, a phone call. Aren't you glad they took that margin of time and thought about you ?
Link to: "http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/
Betty--oh my dear friend~~~your message IS heard--because I heard it and every word reached me in so many ways. As my Chronic Pain continues to grow--I am slowly learning--as you say "A minute of Margin" because Pain is so Thirsty for my body~~~for so many years I kept my focus in a Battle Mode--Fight Back Martha--Do Not let Pain take all of you!!! Now as Pain rages louder--I am learning quickly--"REST--focus on Life directly in front of you" and I do keep reminding myself --HE will never give me more than I can handle! Betty your words touch me--to the core. Bless you my friend... love, martha
ReplyDeleteLoved your post! Keep on writing because I will read it and so need to hear what you have to say.! I miss you, dear friend! You were such an encouragement to me during Enrichment! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteDear Martha...you are learning to "rest" and out of your rest comes this heart for others in pain. Pain can never take all of you. It can take our body but not our soul, it belongs to Jesus. Praying for you my friend.
ReplyDeleteBekka...oh I am so glad to see you visited my site. Do you have a blog site for I could not find one.
ReplyDeleteAce and I marveled at how God put us together in PNG...I felt so loved by Him through you and Tim. I have thought often of our conversation at Enrichment. We were humbled you guys felt free enough to confide in us. We love you both and if God would work it out we would minister with you two anywhere. You are lovely caring people that's want to learn, rare in this day and age. I miss you too. Love Betty
Oh man. I'm guilty. I live like I drive, not much space between me and the other cars for margin. I've struggled my entire life with the "less is more" concept, even though I know it to be true.
ReplyDeleteI have to say, I always look forward to your words. They bring me comfort. The Holy Spirit flows easily through your heart and into words that He uses to lift up the hearts of His chosen. I always look forward to your heart in words, Betty. They are a gift.
Oh man. I'm guilty. I live like I drive, not much space between me and the other cars for margin. I've struggled my entire life with the "less is more" concept, even though I know it to be true.
ReplyDeleteI have to say, I always look forward to your words. They bring me comfort. The Holy Spirit flows easily through your heart and into words that He uses to lift up the hearts of His chosen. I always look forward to your heart in words, Betty. They are a gift.
My brother Floyd...I don't doubt you are a man of action but the very fact you can write the way you do means you must take a margin of time to think on the things of the Lord. In my younger years I and my husband used all our energy to fill our days up. It is extremely hard for Ace to relax but age does bring some advantages. One is the body cannot take such full days for a long period of time. I am not sure it's not design to be that way. Children take a whole lot of time, work, church and people. There is something to be said about in our winter years when we are seeing the fruits of our labor. Our ministry now is working with those young couples and encouraging them to find even a little time for themselves, to care for their souls, to on purpose carve out a time for Him. Take a vacation, go to a conference, refresh yourself. Other wise you will find yourself in your old age regretting so much. I don't think we regret the time spent "doing" for it flowed out of being. One thing I have learned is there is a different "margin of time" in every season. Thanks for the encouragement. Thanks for seeing my heart.
ReplyDeleteDear Betty,
ReplyDeleteI am sorry for your recent loss. Thanks for sharing the wisdom of margins...I have learned the hard way the importance of margins, and it is an ongoing tweaking and asking God for wisdom to accept my limits, while praying I do not limit Him...thanks for visiting my blog...Nice to meet you :)
Good to meet you too Dolly. It does take His tweaking for us to live with margins. As I told Floyd, there is different margin for different times and for different circumstances.
ReplyDeleteI turned 50 on my last birthday, so I take your words to heart too in this early fall/winter of my life. I have to really work hard to keep a proper margin. I do know it is valuable (I love Swenson's book "Margin"); I just find it hard keeping a proper margin. But I will continue seeking it because I do enjoy living with more margin. It's much more peaceful not only for me but for others around me when I do.
ReplyDeleteLisa, thanks for the reply...I value your wisdom. Peace for us and others comes when we can put margins in our life. It does take some wisdom to see the value of margins. Bless you and your efforts to walk with the Lord.
ReplyDeleteI love this book - have read it, blogged about it, shared it with counseling clients! And oh how we need MARGIN ... lots of it! We are over-stretched, overwrought, over-extended.
ReplyDeleteEnough!
Bless you Linda for stopping by my site. We have given the little book to many as a source of encouragement and direction in this all too fast moving world.
ReplyDeleteYou always encourage me, Betty. Looking to the value of this day with you. I want to follow you on FB.
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I are always talking about putting margin into our lives. Sometimes it seems difficult because we have young children so time is precious. However, I know that in the long run it is worth it. Thanks for the encouragement!
ReplyDeleteCaleb, thanks for visiting my site. I think the key is to never stop trying to put margins in our life for some will be come habit through the process.
ReplyDeleteThose spaces are necessary and we need them in our lives. Perhaps as reminders that our load may need some adjustments. Thank you for sharing at Tell Me a Story.
ReplyDeleteI also noticed that you are on Rick’s Saturday Shortcut list
ReplyDeletehttp://www.plannedpeasanthood.com/2013/07/saturday-shortcuts-9/