March 11, 2022

Dear Ones,

Happy weekend! Hope you have some time for leisure over the weekend! This morning I did some studying and food prep and this afternoon both Al and I are getting haircuts and hopefully a  walk etc. We had a large group at Bible Study yesterday and it was good to be back again. Ann and Leif also made it for an early supper. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Leisure is important in all of our lives and gives us room to live gently and not be so driven. In other words, it gives us room to breathe.

I am reading a book by Father Michael Casey and I liked what he had to say about living a simple life, with an undivided heart and embracing silence, leisure, mindfulness etc. He speaks of leisure, not as idleness, but as a time and space of freedom in which our deep self can find fuller expression. In other words, it is like being attentive to the present moment. We are not held captive to our past or living in future anticipation, but being open to the present. We have a receptive attitude.

In leisure we take time to listen and don’t need to control what is happening around us. We practice silence and come to know what is happening within us. We practice involuntary inactivity and some people would not find value in that. But it is an opportunity to step back from our usual busy self and have time to reflect. It’s learning to take each day as it comes.

Father Casey said that leisure is a gift of time and space…time for oneself and for others; time to listen and encourage; time to discern and assess. He said there is space for people to grow, space for differing gifts to be used and space to pass through crises.

Leisure also has enemies that can be seen in people that work too hard and who take on too much and get pre occupied. They may be afraid that others will say they are failures so they fill all their available time; but then there is none left for the unexpected adventures in life. 

A leisurely mind is open and does not have the need to be in control.

We were all made to be creative and we block it up when we overwork or are idle. Instead, in leisure we need to seize the day, and make the most of the opportunities that come. Each day is important and like Father Casey says, “Leisure teaches us to recognize that we need to do everything at the opportune time.”

Let us live each day to the full for today matters. As it says in Eccl. 3:1 (Amplified), ” to everything there is a season, and at time for every matter or purpose under heaven.”

Challenge for today: Take some time for leisure, without feeling guilty.