Martin Luther, when once asked what his plans, for the following day were, answered: “Work, work, from early until late. In fact, I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.”

September and October seem to have been a particularly busy months.  I say that knowing that it’s just my perception.  Our kitchen is being remodeled so right after the big homecoming event here at church we embarked on the demolition of our kitchen.  Since then there have been numerous people in and out of our house so that even on my day off, it doesn’t seem that I have had my time off.  And when the house has been quite of people, I have been struggling to rid it of sawdust and plaster dust. October has found me sleeping outside in a cardboard box with the youth (and it snowed!) sending off our missionaries to Biloxi at 7am, welcoming missionaries from the Dakota Association, sending youth on a 6.2 mile walk, Saturday church meetings 3 weeks in a row, welcoming my Aunt and Uncle whom I haven’t seen in 8 years as they drive through town.  In the midst of all that I do remember a calm time.  Part of it was the time I spent in Arizona with my folks.  But part of it was the time I was consistent with my own devotionals, every day reading from the Rule of Benedict with commentary by Joan Chittister, or Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal and Delight in Our Busy Lives by Wayne Muller, zentangling, praying, reflecting.

It seems that there is a tipping point at which I, quite literally, fall over and off my devotional wagon.  I once again succumb to the notion that I don’t have enough time.  Or I wake up thinking that there is just this one email that I need to write first and then I’ll get to my devotions – but I don’t.  Instead I get swept up in stuff, in that whirlwind of busyness.

Now I’m just hoping for things to slow down; to find time again.  But, time hasn’t gone anywhere.  My perception has changed because I have changed the way I am using my time.  I can get my Saturdays back in November, but unless I change my perception, unless I find rest and a different pace for my soul, I’ll not escape the whirlwind.

It amazes me that I can know this in my head and yet, I get caught over and over again by that whirlwind.  I’m thankful that I can recognize what’s going on, that I can find my way back to the wagon and climb on.  Thankful that when I get on the wagon, it’s familiar, warm and welcoming … or perhaps that’s not where I am at all, perhaps it’s this – when I put on the yoke again, I remember once again the turning-the-world-upside-down logic of God, that this yoke is light and the burden is easy.