Pump It Up! Live Elated, Not Deflated Through Disappointing Daysਨਮੂਨਾ

Pieces of Eight – Rediscovering your treasure

I would never have chosen my dinghy days of redundancy, but they certainly helped me to experience and appreciate the beauty that can be found in a quieter way of life. We can easily become obsessed with working, striving, achieving, and getting things done. I’m a goal geek, and I love making lists and working through what I want to achieve each day. But when we are forced to slow down, we can begin to rediscover the treasure right in front of us. Onboard my dinghy, I had the opportunity to refocus on who and what was important in my life and to value those people and things more than perhaps I had done prior to my ‘dinghydom’. I also grew to reflect on and treasure the ways God has moved in my life in the past, and to hold onto those examples of his goodness to help me face the future with faith.

I remember trying to get my little girl off to sleep one afternoon during a dinghy day, so I could get my cleaning jobs ticked off my to-do list. Unusually, when I put her down, she woke up every time her little tush hit the mattress. I realised the only way she’d stay asleep was for me to cuddle her. It turned out to be a wonderfully productive hour despite the fact that zero jobs were completed. I lay with her sleepily on top of me, all warm and toasty like a hot water bottle. I gazed at her, marvelling at how incredible she is and how good God is in his gift of her to our family. I even had a cheeky ten-minute power nap myself. No dribble on the cushions, honest! It was a wonderful hour with her, and I believe it was worship to God. It wasn’t a big deal - no spotlight, audience, excitement, or applause, but it was a choice to slow down and take the time to delight in the treasure in front of me. To share a precious moment of closeness, wonder, gratitude, and rest with my little treasure.

I am aware that the reality of life is that jobs need doing – I can’t lie snuggled up with my girl all day, every day. But sometimes we need to choose to set aside the job list and intentionally focus on the treasure around us. My dinghy days afforded me this luxury that busy, cruising times don’t often allow.

Reflection

What task could you set aside today, and what treasure could you actively focus on instead?