My Saturday Sabbatical

This past week, I must have had writer’s block. Many themes, ideas and rough drafts emerged, but nothing seemed to come together in the right way at the right time for my traditional Saturday morning blog posting.

I’m not sure what that was all about, but a few small “events” did finally open the creative flow. One was a simple morning reflection I wrote in my journal…

This Quiet Moment

Here I am nestled under a blanket

pen and paper at the ready

frothy latte nearby

I see the purple tulips

in their slender vase

observe the gentle rain

on the oaks outside our windows

and watch doggy’s body rise and fall

to the cadence of her breathing

I become aware of my own breathing

and give thanks

take a sip of coffee

reach for my pen and paper

and wait

Another helpful event might have been revisiting portions of a book I have had on my bookshelf for many years. It is called Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives by Wayne Muller. Through the under-linings and dog-eared pages, these little kernels spoke to me:

“When we become still and allow our life to rest, we feel a renewal of energy and gradual clarity of perception.”

“In Sabbath time we bless what there is for being. The time for seeking is over; the time for finding has begun.”

A third series of events included an impromptu “come for tea and persimmon cookies” invitation from friends–a wonderful catch-up time– followed by a chili dinner at home and a jigsaw puzzle session, putting together the chocolate bar shown above.

Finally, I was ready to write. I was thankful for the return of the creative spark and wondered what helped it return. Perhaps patience, openness, curiosity, love, and faith all played their parts. And maybe, as with that jigsaw puzzle, a balance between focus and relaxation provided the avenue for putting all the pieces together.

So there you have it– a small Sunday offering from my Saturday Sabbatical.