Sage Parnassus: Advice On Cutting Back

Since studying O'Keeffe, The Lawrence Tree is a popular perspective (14dd)

As I prepare for the Grace to Build Retreat next weekend, I have been steeping myself in all things peace-related for my talk, The Importance of Peace. Often, as I consult with moms and dads, the following questions need to be addressed - "What do I say 'yes' to? What do I say 'no' to?" Here is a sage piece of advice set in a whimsical narrative from an old Parents' Review article, "Family Life."

We cannot all do everything, and yet this seems to be the aim of some people, and they wonder that they fail. Life is like a drawer that will not shut, and never can be orderly; it is too full. Suppose that you had such a drawer representing your life. At the bottom of it would lie a few things which should have been done a month ago. Then a layer of letters and bills; bundles with india-rubber rings which are breaking; in one corner your Bible; in another your account book; a bit of a child's work you promised to finish; on the top of all the baby's broken toy. Every time you touch the drawer you make hay of it, and further confusion ensues. The fairy of old childhood days, whose wand puts all in order, passes by. You look at her with imploring eyes. "Yes! I will do it, but only in my own way." You stand and watch. She takes the drawer right out, and while you shudder, she turns the contents all on the floor. She puts the drawer back clean and fresh, and, just as you expect she will replace the contents, she leaves the room, saying, "Oh! no, you only know what should be in; pick up all you can use, and I will come back, and sweep away the rubbish."

Teaching from Peace,

Nancy

house in autumn

15 comments:

Amy MarieOctober 29, 2017 at 4:53 PM
Love the photos and the advice. <3
DawnOctober 29, 2017 at 5:26 PM
Timely advice as our school year draws to a close and I consider plans for 2018. Thank you, my friend.
UnknownOctober 29, 2017 at 6:57 PM
"You only know what should be in." Wow, so wise. Thank you!
bjocarlsonOctober 29, 2017 at 8:32 PM
cute! great image! this is an ever going process, isn't it? oh, patience :)
AngelaOctober 29, 2017 at 8:38 PM
Thank you for sharing this fairy story! Now I feel less dismayed by my own "drawers"...each shall be refreshed in due time, only to be filled with the stuff of life once again. Living—peacefully—with the tension is the challenge for me. ;)
AlanaOctober 30, 2017 at 7:57 AM
This is a great little nugget. We are all "crazy busy". A book I could (and plan to) read yearly is called Crazy Busy by Kevin D Young.
UnknownNovember 17, 2017 at 1:46 PM
Last year, a friend prayed the sweetest truth for me, "Look up at the busyness of the season and wonder at the coming King Jesus." It is such a lovely truth for Advent but when I think of the statement as I read your post..... It's really how I want my life to lived. Filled with the things that draw me into wondering at my Savior and courageously throwing out all that distracts me. Thank you for this timely and beautiful post!