Tuesday, August 21, 2007

The Power of Rest & Naylah's Birthday

Last week, we as a family headed north to Brown City, Michigan. Our destination was Brown City Camp. It is a good place to relax, hang out with family and Micah and Naylah love it. Micah is especially fond of riding around camp, sitting in PaPa Keller's lap and steering the golf cart. The playground is a pretty big hit as well. We had a great time... Other than play zone at the playscapes (a.k.a. playground) and do my share of diaper patrol, I had no other obligations...

Normally during weeks like these, I can manage to fill every spare moment with something to do. Most notably reading a book, taking notes, or working on my laptop. And though all these things have there good and have there place, it can at times be a challenge to simply rest and simply be... We as humans, can get addicted to doing, producing and the buzz from the demand of productivity. So much so, that when there is nothing to do, we can begin to feel less than human, as if something is missing. As if, a sense of who we are and our value as a person is intricately interwoven with what we do. Sometimes the most spiritually productive thing we can do is - nothing.

As I look back, this is what I spent most of my time doing - nothing. This doesn't mean that I sat in the lotus position. I did my share of hanging out, chatting and playing with the family. What I mean is, I intentionally didn't do anything that could be calculated as something I was producing - doing - creating - etc. I didn't write anything. I didn't develop any thoughts or ideas for the purpose of communication or ministry. I didn't even crack a book open (though I took several to be sure). Consequently, I did read through two issues of Runner's World. All other reading was in Scripture, and even that was a more slow-reflective-meditative-musing of several passages.

Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is nothing.

Naylah's birthday falls right during camp, and since much of Charissa's family is at camp as well, it makes a great convergence spot for a little Birthday Extravaganza. Naylah's on a Stawberry Short Cake kick, so naturally we were all decked out with Strawberry Short Cake decorations, plates and so forth. Here are some snap shots of Naylah gift opening, candle blowing, cake stuffing experience. (I realize that I'm probably a bit bias, but Naylah is the cutest 2-year-old girl on the PLANET!).



1 comment:

alnut said...

She definitely is a cutie!