I love the analogy, also, of Zoe’s vulture scene…and the last part of the second paragraph of your piece, Liv, about us having to be ‘doing’ something for God to take His part…not that He doesn’t many times work little unrecognized miracles , but that He expects us to move forward so that He can add his aid in a timely manner. You are learning a lot from your introspective time off, Liv…and it sounds like Hannah, too, has valuably learned to be able to find those little restful moments in her busy life. Love hearing from and about you both!
You're infinitely lucky that you're in a position to take a 3 month plus long sabbatical from your career to figure all of this out. Not bashing it, it's a good thing! Just an observation. As someone with a small business that literally can't afford to take a day off work and hasn't taken one in a VERY long time, there is a lot of value in being able to learn how to take a step back from the belief that everything has to be a hustle WHILE right in the midst of busyness that is somewhat impossible to escape. It's learning to carve out rest and enjoyment in the mundane even when every day is full of tasks. It's really hard, but valuable, as you're discovering. Good thoughts 👍🏻
Yesss, I am very thankful for the ability to do this!
It’s so true re: finding “rest” in the daily rhythms. You have to find time to do things that fill you up emotionally and creatively 🙏🏼 I’ve found that even looks like “work” sometimes — working at night on a creative project or going for a run. It’s not just laying on the beach or taking a “vacation” — it’s doing things that bring you joy ♥️
I relate to this so much. When my husband got laid off, I remember laying in our front yard looking at the sky watching a vulture hang on the wind. As a relentless over-worker, the message was suddenly really obvious: the bird still has to hunt, still has to take action. But God carries the current. The bird did not have to work to be held and directed, it only had to open its wings and receive that force.
I would argue that what you arrived at isn't actually duality but transcendence. The responsibility and the surrender you reference both come from Source -- so they are not actually two states, but three. Instead of either/or (duality), it's "both *and*" (transcend and include). Not a criticism -- just a point that's opened me up to more ease in my own life.
Zoe — this story of the vulture is such a beautiful analogy…. The wind carrying it but still needing to do all the “work” of the hunt. That’s so powerful!
I love this quote. So good and encouraging!
Tim Keller lays it out with such grace:
We are 100% responsible and God is 100% in charge.
Profound reflection, as always.
Also appreciate the footnote 💯
Thanks, Zeyad :)
The picture you used with your piece is really beautiful.
I love the analogy, also, of Zoe’s vulture scene…and the last part of the second paragraph of your piece, Liv, about us having to be ‘doing’ something for God to take His part…not that He doesn’t many times work little unrecognized miracles , but that He expects us to move forward so that He can add his aid in a timely manner. You are learning a lot from your introspective time off, Liv…and it sounds like Hannah, too, has valuably learned to be able to find those little restful moments in her busy life. Love hearing from and about you both!
You're infinitely lucky that you're in a position to take a 3 month plus long sabbatical from your career to figure all of this out. Not bashing it, it's a good thing! Just an observation. As someone with a small business that literally can't afford to take a day off work and hasn't taken one in a VERY long time, there is a lot of value in being able to learn how to take a step back from the belief that everything has to be a hustle WHILE right in the midst of busyness that is somewhat impossible to escape. It's learning to carve out rest and enjoyment in the mundane even when every day is full of tasks. It's really hard, but valuable, as you're discovering. Good thoughts 👍🏻
Yesss, I am very thankful for the ability to do this!
It’s so true re: finding “rest” in the daily rhythms. You have to find time to do things that fill you up emotionally and creatively 🙏🏼 I’ve found that even looks like “work” sometimes — working at night on a creative project or going for a run. It’s not just laying on the beach or taking a “vacation” — it’s doing things that bring you joy ♥️
I relate to this so much. When my husband got laid off, I remember laying in our front yard looking at the sky watching a vulture hang on the wind. As a relentless over-worker, the message was suddenly really obvious: the bird still has to hunt, still has to take action. But God carries the current. The bird did not have to work to be held and directed, it only had to open its wings and receive that force.
I would argue that what you arrived at isn't actually duality but transcendence. The responsibility and the surrender you reference both come from Source -- so they are not actually two states, but three. Instead of either/or (duality), it's "both *and*" (transcend and include). Not a criticism -- just a point that's opened me up to more ease in my own life.
Beautiful post.
I think I agree about the transcendence – great observation :)
Zoe — this story of the vulture is such a beautiful analogy…. The wind carrying it but still needing to do all the “work” of the hunt. That’s so powerful!
I still think about that moment all the time! Maybe it's time to write about it :)