A few friends and I are reading this book together. Each week we are reading one chapter. On Fridays, I am posting my comments, then giving them the opportunity to add their thoughts as well. If you would like to join us or simply find out more about the book, you can read about it here.)
Conclusion
- I have looked back through notes on the book, and here are the biggest things that stood out to me:
1. The simple need for margin
- I now see how margin can help in many areas and how it gives us the freedom to meet the unexpected challenges of life because we aren't living on the edge of our emotional, physical, financial or time resources.
2. The realization of the need for emotional strength
- This is the hardest for me to quantify, but I do see how lack of emotional strength affects me in all of my life.
3. The importance of relationships
- Solid relationships nurture lives. For that to happen, I must make relationships a priority.
4. The true picture of priorities
- We can't just list our priorities, because that doesn't give us an accurate perspective. A better way to picture it is the wheel. God is always the center and our other priorities each touch Him.
5. The difference between leisure and rest
- Americans are good at having time for leisure, but we aren't so accomplished on truly resting. I want to learn to have rest in my life.
I've had my say, what say you?
Discussion on Chapter 15
A few friends and I are reading this book together. Each week we are reading one chapter. On Fridays, I am posting my comments, then giving them the opportunity to add their thoughts as well. If you would like to join us or simply find out more about the book, you can read about it here.)
Chapter 15: "Pain, Margin, Health, and Relationship"
- Here we are finally- the last chapter!!
- In dealing with what we are to do with pain, he said something that I think is worth quoting: "Anything that redirects us to Him is of benefit." (Page 205) Often it is so easy to look at the negatives that have come from the situation, but if that is all we do, we are in trouble. If nothing else, we can allow something to affect us, so that we recalibrate our focus, so that it is directed towards the Lord.
- He talked about the need to just focus on today for the short term. There are several good ideas in the book that I'd like to work on implementing. It is unreasonable to set out this long plan as to how I can accomplish them. Most of them are simple things that I should seek to do today. Then, when tomorrow becomes today, I'll do it again. We can only control what we are doing in the moment, so let's not get caught looking ahead so much that we fail to affect now.
- While in general I disagree with the thought that we need to make sure to "love ourselves" it did get me thinking: just as I would make effort and sacrifice to love others, can I not make choices and work towards things that would be good for me? Example: can I not choose to go to the gym and exercise my body, instead of staying in bed? Isn't that good for me? Could we call that action then: "loving" me? This was my train on thought on that section.
- As I read his explanation as to why he helped Eileen (lady with fluid on her lungs), I thought of transforming his paragraph for us preachers. I think it fits: "We do not study the word of God because we are professional researchers who enjoy study for study's sake. We do not preach because we love the thrill of speaking to a crowd of people. We do not visit people and seek to minister to them because we are wanting to build a reputation for ourselves. Instead, we care for people because we are allowing God's ache to enter our hearts."
- Along with the above thought, I liked this: "My reaching is what I call love." (Page 212)
- That's all! I plan to have one more post, as you can see below. I am going to look over my notes on the book, and pick out the 5 things that helped me the most. If you have time, I'd love to hear your biggest takeaways from the book, whether it be one or several.
I've had my say, what say you?
Discussion on Chapter 14
Discussion on Conclusion
A few friends and I are reading this book together. Each week we are reading one chapter. On Fridays, I am posting my comments, then giving them the opportunity to add their thoughts as well. If you would like to join us or simply find out more about the book, you can read about it here.)
Chapter 14: "Heath Through Rest"
- An earlier chapter discussed the need for margin in our physical strength. The present chapter focuses on the need for physical, emotional and spiritual rest.
- "We have leisure but little rest." (Page 194) He is right. Most of our "leisure" is so distracted that it is not truly refreshing. We have so many things that can entertain us that we gravitate towards them. Unfortunately the rest that they present is lacking. "People in the Western world have leisure. We do not need to slave every minute in order to eat. But only a few appear to have rest." (Page 197)
- "There is no glory in rest." (Page 195) When have you heard a preacher praised because he disciplined himself to have periods of rest in his life? I think rest can be like taking the time to sharpen the ax instead of continuing to chop when the blade is getting dull.
- In resting our emotions, he challenges us to seek out quiet. I see in my own life where my emotions are worn and I need recharged. Yet, other than this seeking out quiet, I feel lost as to the practical ideas of how to rest emotionally. With physical rest, it is much easier for me to see what to do to repair my worn down body. Do any of you have any insight into resting emotionally?
- Familial relationships are fractured at best in America. I think it will be a challenge for us all of our lives to not let cultural norms shape our expectations of how familial relationships should be. It seems that deep relationships can be a balm for emotional healing, but if we are not working at those relationships, there will be no help for the ailment.
- Do any of you try to incorporate a type of "Sabbath?" If so, what do you do? For awhile, Viola and I have been trying to make it a habit to do no extra work on Sundays. Yes, she cooks, and I may do a few odds and ends, but we don't allow ourselves to do homework, extra language study, etc. It is a little thing, but it is helping us shape a time of relaxation and an atmosphere for potential spiritual rest.
I've had my say, what say you?
Discussion on Chapter 13
Discussion on Chapter 15
