Like water under the bridge…or on the shore…or…
Last week Caroline and I got to watch a couple of episodes of Bluey. It’s been a while and we both enjoyed visiting our old friends for a few minutes.
One of the episodes was about a rainy day. There was no words, just music and the animation as Bingo left with the dad and Bluey stayed home with her mom. The skies clouded over and the frames rolled by as Bluey entertained herself in the rain and frustrated her mom. One of the activities Bluey did was to try and block the water as it flowed along the sidewalk from a downspout. As she set obstacles along the path the water would divert off to the side. It kept going as she would add to the blockade.
I thought of that today as I walked.
I also thought of the way the ocean on the beach finds new places to fill in as the tide comes in or recedes. Small pockets in the sand create little pools and rivers.
And it made me think of time and how it gets filled up.
When I subbed the lion’s share of 2024-2025 for three English classes, it consumed vast amounts of my time. Projects and dreams were laid aside. When I handed in my keys to the front door and my laptop in May of 2025, I remember vaguely thinking of all I would accomplish now that had my time back. If I had managed to purposefully use that many hours each week for inside and outside classroom time, imagine all I could accomplish at home on my own things!
But I haven’t.
Water tricked in from other sources.
I made choices on things to add and things to procrastinate on and still there are projects and dreams that have remained untouched.
I signed up for a Bible study this summer that took extra time to finish the homework and two hours every Wednesday to attend the group sessions. I longed for the freer time of Wednesday pre-study time.
While I did enjoy very much the study and the group of women I met with, I did think how when it was over I would have all that time back.
And yet, here I am, still…projects and dreams sitting collecting dust.
I have filled the pockets in the sand with other things instead of the things I keep thinking I don’t have time for.
Anyone else?
This week I have returned to my lists making. I am keeping it by the coffee pot where I will see it. I am giving myself pep talks throughout the day. Here was the mantra on Monday…
“It’s not that you don’t have things to do, it’s that you don’t want to do them. Now get back over there to that list and do the next item.”
And you can believe, it worked. I listened to myself and I got some things done. But now I have to do it again, and again…and again.
Blessings friends in whatever you set your hand to today. May we make the most of the days we are given…just like our Father has told us to do <3
PS…I just proofed this and would like to acknowledge the overuse of the word “things” but I must press on to the next … thing…today. Forgive me <3