A sort of narrow way, yes ~ but one that is worth walking (and that is necessary to be undertaken) if life were to be lived to the fullest.
Approaching the summer years of my lifespan, it's longer days and shorter nights. Seeds have been sown in spring. Crops are reaching for the sky. Flowers are flaunting their garbs. The bugs are partying. Summer sowings have begun. It is yet a long time to harvest season; and so, hard work is needed. I am not saying that I shouldn't take time to chill out. But it is not really a time to kick back, mellow my pace and take a honeymoon in life - even while I am no longer a full-time student in the uni - sitting for major board exams, etcetera, etcetera. There is still much to be learned and much space to grow. There are still bad habits to be surrendered, fears to be conquered, God-given gifts to be nurtured and many more lives to invest in.
In short, my days need to be ordered. Seek God, seek the right foci, set my goals, make the necessary plans... and stick to them... Train, fight my practice battles, sharpen my axe. Good stuff. This is my role to play... but I play it as my gratitude and response to the Giver of Life. I thank God for the disciplines established in my life in the present... and for His guidance by which they were established. Spiritual disciplines, studies, work, friendship, marriage, rest and all. They structure and give purpose to my days well - even when my heart and flesh may fail. They set the boundaries, within the constraints of which I enjoy freedom, life and hope. Indeed, such disciplines are the means of experiencing God's grace and lovingkindness.
Take vocal discipline for example...
During voice lessons today, my voice teacher made me sing while doing a half-squat/ demi-plié (with my thighs 45 degrees to the vertical, but my knees facing front unlike the turned-out knees of the ballerina in the picture) with no support. The exercise was supposed to help my rigid back muscles to relax so that I could expand my rib-cage properly when I breathed in.
She did give me rest in between holding that position for some minutes. You can imagine how my thighs were suffering, since I do not come from the Shaolin Kung Fu School - where they apparently remain in such awkward poses for hours (or at least the Chinese movies show that they do). While I was watching my posture in the full-length mirror she provided, watching my teacher adjusting my posture, fighting muscular fatigue, singing and consoling myself *sob, sob* - I was reminded that I am being disciplined for good. My back-side-front lumbar/abdominal/pelvic muscles were being disciplined for good ~ so that my vocal cords would not have to suffer the brunt of bad singing technique and expire before their time ~ so that I can serve God better, give Him my best and not retire before He says so.
Such discipline sets the boundaries, within the constraints of which I will enjoy freedom, life and hope.
Musings of the day...
1 comment:
:) summer oh summer...so much to do and thanks for sharing :)) i've been writing a lot in my private journal
Post a Comment