Central Massachusetts
I sit typing these words in a perfectly quiet house; a rare moment indeed. Darren and the kids are off to Maine for the weekend while I spend a couple days at a retreat with friends. I meant to write about something different today. But the quiet has me thinking about an idea that’s been growing in my heart and mind for some time now. The idea that it’s okay to live a quiet life.
Quiet Thoughts in a Loud World
We live in a noisy world — made all the louder by our near constant virtual connection to people everywhere. Earlier this year, I took a month-long break from social media and the difference I observed in myself was intriguing.
Inspiration or Distraction?
So often, my excuse for scrolling through feeds is the belief that looking at other people’s lives is inspiring. And certainly it can be. But what I find in stepping away for a bit is my own creativity and inspiration renewed. In constantly looking at what everyone else is doing, I lose sight of what I’m supposed to be doing myself.
Never Enough
But perhaps the most dangerous thing I observe in myself in relation to social media, is the feeling I almost always walk away with — the feeling of lack. The feeling of needing more. I need to be more, to have more, to do more. Or, cutting to the quick — I am not enough. What I have is not enough. What I do is not enough. I lack something everyone else has.
And when I feel shot through with holes, I’m quick to plug the leaks with more. With More activity, more stuff — more noise.
Slow Down
Here, 1 Thessalonians 4:11 stops me in my hustle with a timely reminder:
Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands. (NLT)
“Make it your goal to live a quiet life.” In a world that glorifies busyness and chaos, we’re challenged to live quietly, to mind our own business and to work with our hands.
One Step at a Time
So how does this translate into real life? For me, it means viewing life seasonally. That is, what I’m asked to do in one season is not the same as another. And I’m not meant to do everything all at once. The world tells me I need to do everything right now or I’ll miss out and get left behind. But that’s simply not true.
Enough for Today
The season I’m in right now is heavy with the responsibilities of home and motherhood; but that won’t always be the case. Someday, there will likely be more margin for more things. But for today, living quietly, minding my own business, and working with willing hands means tending the people and place right under my nose. And that’s enough. It really is okay to live a quiet life.
Thank you for this! I’m going through some changes and the need for a “quiet life” is tugging at my heart! Love your new blog, by the way!
Thank you, Deb! The more I peel myself away from social media, the more alive I feel. Not that it doesn’t have a time and place, but that place certainly needs to be defined and kept in check.