When the Corn is High in the Field

The older I get the more I realize how quickly life flies by. It's mid-August and the corn is getting high in the field. Because we've had so little rain this summer the leaves are starting to change color and fall off the trees already. It seems as if summer will be over in the blink of an eye.  

In the spirit of my last post, I spent Saturday just puttering around my house and enjoying the small things. If I had a thought about something that needed to get done that was work-related, I wrote it down and got it out of my brain. This way I was able to stay in the moment.

I made a pot roast for my family and homemade dinner rolls. 

I processed the oregano from my garden that had been drying and then I went out and cut some more herbs to dry. 

I read a book. I worked on a rag wreathe.

I went for long walks. 

I carried that "in-the-moment" spirit to church yesterday. Usually I'm barreling around the church on a Sunday morning preparing a bunch of last minute stuff. Yesterday, I worked on staying focused on conversations with people. Some of that happens when there aren't multiple things happening on a Sunday for which I'm responsible. I'm working on seeing what things I can let go of, or at least tweak, so I can stay present with people.

My husband and I had many good conversations this week about ministry and what things I can let go of and delegate to others. I was talking about some business/ministry-related theory and how I could implement it and Dan looked at me with a little bit of exasperation and said, "You are talking like you are 30 and are just at the beginning of your ministry." He reminded me that we've had a long ministry run and are nearing the end. 

I'm not sure I like that thought, but he's correct. The stalks are high in my "field" and the corn is ripe. I am entering the autumn season of my life and have had close to 40 years of ministry and doing all the things. I know the Lord isn't done with me yet, but we are coming to the end and more of our ministry is going to be more about counseling, training, and mentoring than doing all the things ourselves. 

Sitting and reading a book felt strange to me this weekend. I'm not used to doing anything just for the sheer pleasure of doing it and that makes me a bit sad. I've always been driven and I'm trying to learn that it's okay to say, "I don't want to do that." or that it is okay just to do something for me.

I have a few more years of ministry in me, but if I don't know how to relax or do other things then the end of my life is going to be very long and boring! So I am letting go of some things, coming alongside and mentoring others to lead, and learning to be okay in slowing down and not being involved in every single thing.

But I may need that reminder every now and then. 😅