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Savannah Scott Romcom Author

Working from a Place of Rest

May 9, 2016 By Patty 2 Comments

9 May

Have you been in that place where you seek to improve your time management? Maybe you bought a new calendar/planner started watching productivity webinars, reading articles about work and rest and even engaged in a program to “make over your evenings.”

I’ve been there.  I’m on a current mission to make the most of the time I’ve been given.

stopwatch

I don’t know about you, but I can get simultaneously busy and distracted way too easily.  I have seasons when my “yes” answers roll out without thinking.  Then, as I sit down to accomplish whatever I said “yes” to, I start into something else pressing, drop that and move to something else. 

Oh me, oh my. 

TOO MANY YES ANSWERS

The trouble is, when I take on too many things, they charge at me in my mind like so many dogs, nipping and yipping at me.  I start to attend to one and the other bites me for my lack of attention. 

The fact that I accomplish a lot is a mystery to me.  People sometimes comment, “How do you do it all?”  Oh, if there were a formula! 

A LIFE CHANGING HABIT

I have cultivated one particular habit which has served me well and I’ll share it here.  I don’t want to discuss productivity for its own sake.  That’s like eating a bowl of raw salt.  Yuck.  As an ingredient in something yummy, I’ll take my salt, but to eat it solo, not so much. 

salt with food

The unexpected habit fueling my productivity happens to be rest.

It might seem contrary to dive into a discussion about productivity by bringing up rest, but actually, the most productive people on the planet rest regularly and effectively. 

GOD RESTED

More importantly, God rested.  “Yeah, yeah,” you say, “… on the seventh day and all that.”  Yes.  Take a moment and really think about it.  Why did a God, self-sustained, with no beginning and no end, who never sleeps and never slumbers, rest? 

Why would He “need” rest?  If He doesn’t “need” it, why did He take it?  And, why on earth did He declare it “holy” (Ex 20:8)? – Holy, as in set apart, sacred, for God alone, pure and cleansed. 

My take on this after seeking to grow in my understanding and practice of rest for years is that God rested to enjoy all He had made.  God stopped and surveyed His work and He said, “It is good,” and then, “It is very good.” 

If God stopped for 24hours to reflect on the goodness of His work and to enjoy all He had made, we ought to do the same.  As Tim Keller says,

We need to stop to enjoy God, to enjoy his creation, to enjoy the fruits of our labor. The whole point of Sabbath is joy in what God has done.

Don’t you just love Tim Keller?  I do.  His teaching reaches my soul.  If you want to read more of his thoughts on taking sabbath, this article is great. 

REST IS A GIFT

Rest is a gift from God.  As Dallas Willard often pointed out, rest is a spiritual discipline.  It won’t come to us.  We have to pursue it.  He often said, “If you go to read scripture or pray and you find yourself falling asleep, go rest.  Then return to your other discipline once you are rested.”  What a word of grace and wisdom! 

We can’t be fully present for any work – especially the good work of attending to God in Word and prayer, without being well rested.

rest - pillows

WE PRAISE THE WRONG THINGS

What happens when we don’t rest?  An object in motion can tend to stay in motion, yes?  Sadly, in our American culture (and around the world as the epidemic of ceaseless productivity spreads), we exonerate busyness and workaholism.  To be perpetually on the go seems to be “better” than stepping back. 

Articles abound about minimalism, simplifying and letting opportunity pass us by, yet we don’t give out awards for those difficult, counter-cultural movements. 

Instead, we praise the executive who never came home for supper, meanwhile landing the big account.  We praise the athlete who devotes himself to his sport while cheating on his wife and drinking excessively at social functions.  Awards are given to the student who signs up for every extracurricular activity and is head of every club in High School. 

Judge our values by our applause – we love busyness. 

THE PERILS OF BUSYNESS

Sloth is considered one of the seven deadly sins (rightly so) but busyness (having its roots in other sins of pride of life or gluttony) has trumped sloth in our age. 

Compulsive busyness begets burn out.  We lose intimacy as we pursue acknowledgement for our accomplishments.  Rolling forward without a brake pedal makes us lose perspective.  We long for more depth, yet we spread ourselves too thin.

blur on street

WE HAVE TO WORK TO REST

What’s the answer to all this frenetic activity?  Judith Shulevitz, a writer for the NY Times and author of Sabbath World: Glimpses of a Different Order of Time, says:

… interrupting the ceaseless round of striving requires a surprisingly strenuous act of will, one that has to be bolstered by habit as well as by social sanction.

If we are going to overcome busyness, we have to work to do it.  Swimming upstream means going against a current which pulls at us with force.  Salmon need their run {other salmon}.  We need one another. 

We must resolve to rest.  Rest requires planning.  We must encourage one another to rest.  It’s easy to want to give up when you don’t get this right the first time.  Keep at it.  You’ll get better.  Then worse.  Then better than before.  If God made rest one of His top ten, you might consider making it a priority as well.
I’m just sayin’.

REST LEADS TO PRODUCTIVITY

Here’s the beauty.  The more I get in the hang of resting well and regularly, the more I find my life to be … productive.  Yep.  Crazy thing. 

When I take time off, I come back renewed.  I have the perspective I lose so easily when I just barrel forward without pausing.  Resting helps me know what needs to be first, second and third, etc. 

I feel full of goodness and joy when I rest in God for a day.  Following a break, I approach tasks with more awareness of what matters to Him and a greater sensitivity to His presence with me. 

As counter-intuitive as it seems, rest leads to productivity.  We begin to approach our work from a place of rest.  Instead of buzzing around like a bee flitting from flower to flower, we are anchored. Our work proceeds from a peaceful place of purpose in our hearts.
Good stuff, huh?

bee in flower

I’ll wrap up this post by sharing another gem from Tim Keller.  He sums it up in a nutshell:

The purpose of Sabbath is not simply to rejuvenate yourself in order to do more production, nor is it the pursuit of pleasure. The purpose of Sabbath is to enjoy your God, life in general, what you have accomplished in the world through his help, and the freedom you have in the gospel—the freedom from slavery to any material object or human expectation. The Sabbath is a sign of the hope that we have in the world to come.


Are you weary of the habitrail lifestyle, constantly doing more than you feel you can handle?  I encourage you to swim upstream.  Start carving out times of rest and dare to break away from striving and all the “yes” answers to opportunities.  Once a week, allow yourself to step back and delight in God and all He has done.  If that seems too radical, go for once a month and build up.  You can do this.  I love, love, love to hear your thoughts.  

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Filed Under: Spiritual Growth Tagged With: Rest for Moms

About Patty

I write to encourage your heart, feed your soul, and give you wisdom for your life. Motherhood is my passion. I've been married to my surfer/skater husband for over 20 years.  We have two boys and a home full of neighbor kids most days.

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What to do when you are weary of the struggle »

Comments

  1. Michelle Waldrip says

    May 9, 2016 at 12:10 PM

    Yes, yes, yes! I like to do this. I want to do this more. It’s just a challenge not to let things eat into the time, or to only take the time to rest when you’re ready to fall asleep sitting up. “Stopping to smell the roses” – or to see a sunset, or to cuddle your kids, or to pray a prayer of joy and thanks for what is all around can’t be overestimated! Love the post, Patty! 🙂

    Reply
  2. Patty says

    May 9, 2016 at 12:49 PM

    Thanks, Michelle,
    I”m so glad this resonated with you. I think learning to rest is a lot like dusting. Seems we get things all tidy and they way we like them and we have to go back at it again. Busyness comes in like dust – often covering what really matters. I celebrate your efforts to rest and slow for what matters!

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Savannah …

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Ahhhh … enemies to more. 🔥 The banter is so f Ahhhh … enemies to more. 🔥
The banter is so fun!

Chris and Ella Mae start out getting on one another’s nerves … then, due to completely unexpected circumstances, they end up fake dating … and then they drive one another crazy in a whole different sense of the phrase 😉🥰

Ripped & Shipped comes out early May. I’m about 🤏 close to finishing it and sending it to my editor.

ARC Team sign ups will be coming for ebooks on Saturday (Apr 1). Paperback team is already selected and will be getting a welcome email by this weekend. 

We are going to have so much fun launching this book! I can’t even tell you the feelings I have … wrapping up this first Bordeaux series, writing this story that’s full of heart, and laughs, and kisses that make you grab a glass of ice water and fan yourself. 🔥😘🧊💦🫠

I’m so grateful you’re along for the ride. There aren’t words for the sweetness of sharing the Getting Shipped series with you. 💕

(And I’ve been loosely plotting the next series and getting excited as I start writing the Love Trippin’ books.) 💕

Do you love enemies to lovers?
Fake dating? 
Let me know … 

#wipwednesday #workinprogress #amwritingromance #amwritingromcom
#romcombooks #sweetromcom #closeddoorromance #closeddoorromcom
#savannahscott #savannahscottauthor #bordeauxohio #bordeauxohioforever #newrelease #gettingshipped #gettingshippedseries #lovestories #rippedandshipped #chellamaebae #rippedandshippedbook #bookstagrammers #bookstagram #romcom #romancereadersofinstagram #romcomreadersofinstagram #bookexcerpt #shippers #Imashipper #Smalltownromance #ohiolove #smalltownromancebooks
Okay. So. Yes, we are still waiting for Ripped & Okay. So. 
Yes, we are still waiting for Ripped & Shipped to come out and be in your happy little hands on May 1st. 

But, authors are always (usually) a book ahead of the readers. 

And, this time, I’m a whole series ahead. 

I’m thinking about “Are We There Yet?” It’s the first book in the Love Trippin’ series. 

Four people from Bordeaux (yes!!) are traveling to California where the next series takes place. 

This first book takes place over a road trip (after a few chapters in Bordeaux, and before the later chapters in Cali).

So, I want to plan this road trip!
Im a road-tripper, and I grew up spending summers traveling from state to state with my family. 

I know my road trip stories. 
I want to hear YOURS! 
Leave it in the comments or DM me. 🚗🌳🚧🏔️

I’m not going to use your exact story, of course. But, if your story inspires something in the book, I’ll send you a free sticker and bookmark when “Are We There Yet” releases this summer. 

I’m so excited to share this new series with you!

#lovetrippin #lovetrippinseries #savannahscottauthor #savannahscott #romcombooks #sweetromcom #sweetromance #closeddoorromance #closeddoorromcom #romcombooksaremyweakness #romcomreadersofinstagram #romancereadersofinstagram #bookstagram #roadtrippin #roadtripromance #roadtrippin #arewethereyet #arewethereyetbook
Writing retreat A few days on the central coast. Writing retreat 

A few days on the central coast. 

Views. 
Good food. 
Sweet conversation 
Getting so close to finishing Ripped & Shipped. 

Dreaming about the next series. 
Thinking about how to bless moms and women 

#writingretreat #amwriting #amwritingromance #amwritingromcom #romcomauthor #romcomreadersofinstagram #romancereadersofinstagram #bookstagram #sweetromcom #closeddoorromcom #savannahscott #savannahscottauthor #gettingshipped #gettingshippedseries #cambriacalifornia #centralcoast #slocounty #moonstonebeach
Would the Rob & Laura fans raise your hands? 🙋🏼‍♀️

My husband and I are listening to the audiobook of Battleshipped together right now. It takes us forever because: life. But, it’s been fun to revisit their story. 

If you love a slightly geeky leading man, a strong female lead with a loyal heart and a persevering spirit, Battleshipped is for you. 

If you love second chance romcom with a dash of enemies to more, Battleshipped has all the “working hard to win her heart back” vibes. 

If you love laughing out loud until people look at you funny while you read. Yeah. There are those scenes. 

If you love a found-family friend group, and a quirky small town that will win your heart, come to Bordeaux. 

QOTD: Do you love when a brainy male lead becomes your book boyfriend? Which brainy male characters have stolen your heart? 

#battleshipped #battleshippedbook #bookexcerpt #gettingshipped #gettingshippedseries #savannahscott #savannahscottauthor #smalltownromancebooks #sweetromcom #closeddoorromcom #secondchanceromance #goatsgoatsgoats #bordeauxohio #bookboyfriend #romancereadersofinstagram #romcomreadersofinstagram #ohiolove #bookstagram #bookstagrammers
Is it Wednesday? Um no. No it is not. But, do y Is it Wednesday? 
Um no. No it is not. 

But, do you still want this #WIPWednesday teaser from Ripped & Shipped? Why yes, yes you do. 

I’ll tell y’all. This book is coming along. And it is scrum-diddly-umptious. 

We’re talking banterrrrrr!
And all the swoony enemy vibes. 

And then they start faking! 
What? yasssss. They fake. The enemies start to fake a romance. 

Then … a completely unexpected and sweeeet friendship develops. 

But, ruh-roh. One of them catches feelings (just quoting Duke here). 

And it gets so HOT ( in a very closed-door way) and so HEARTFELT. 

This story is special. It’s the last in Bordeaux. So I’m pouring it all out into this book. 

You’ve got Memaw, Esther, and Mabel. 
The Bordeaux friend group. 
Lulabelle 
Ella Mae
Cooter
And so much more. 

I’m not kidding when I say this may be my fave in series. 

And you know what it means when I say I’m about 3/4 done writing? Yep. I just might release this story in May … ARC Team wannabes, lace up your running shoes. I’ll be posting opportunities to join the few open spots the first week of April. ❤️

Wait til you see the cover, too. Gah. I love it!! 

#rippedandshipped #workinprogress #amwriting
#amwritingromance #amwritingromcom
#romcombooks #sweetromance #sweetromcom
#closeddoorromance #closeddoorromcom
#savannahscott #savannahscottauthor #bordeauxohio
#bordeauxohioforever #bookcoverdesign #newrelease
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#romcomreadersofinstagram #bookexcerpt
Heyyyyy ARC Team! If you were on the ARC team fo Heyyyyy ARC Team! 

If you were on the ARC team for Cruiseshipped, our exclusive ARC Team only book chat is coming!

Tomorrow (Thursday March 23) at 5p PT we’ll be gathering on zoom to talk about Cruiseshipped. 

I’m so grateful to each one of you for reading, sharing, and reviewing Cruiseshipped. ❤️ 

So … mark your calendars and set your alarms (and a countdown is in my stories!) and let’s talk all things Brooks + Gabby ❤️🚢💃🏻

#cruiseshipped #cruiseshippedbook #savannahscott #savannahscottauthor #gettingshipped #gettingshippedseries #arcteamperks #bookchat #buddyread #ilovemyreaders #authorchat
Well, I’m back with another #mememonday and this Well, I’m back with another #mememonday and this one is featuring one of my favorite movies EVER: The Princess Bride!

Which slide do you like best? 

And … aside from posting here today, I’m writing! Ripped & Shipped (Chris’ story) is halfway done! 

I’m on a roll now, and my family is going to an amusement park for the day (without me), so I’m alone with Bella and my laptop. 

Then, this weekend, I’ve got a writing retreat. The final book in the Getting Shipped series is going to be written! 

Not saying we won’t have some novellas down the road … mayyyybe we could. (Who would you want to see in a Getting Shipped novella?)

I hope your Monday is GREAT!!

#bookmemes #bookishmemes #princessbride #asyouwish #amwriting #amwritingromcom #romcomauthor #sweetromcom #closeddoorromcom #romancereadersofinstagram #romcomreadersofinstagram #savannahscottauthor #gettingshipped #rippedandshipped #gettingshippedseries
#mawwage #bookstagram #bookstagrammers #bookishcommunity
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