Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Energy, More or Less?

It's easy to feel tired and overwhelmed in our busy American society today. Some of us respond to the feeling of tiredness by seeking out opportunities to be alone, maybe even to the point of feeling lonely and "cut off" from other people.

Some of us respond by trying to put everything that's "good" into our lives - helping out with good causes, being on committees, working, rushing from one activity to the next. Even with all of this busy-ness, it's possible to feel as though you haven't made much of a real connection with the people you've been around.

But this isn't the whole story.

I invite you to look at which activities in your life leave you feeling refreshed, ready to really take on whatever life has to offer next. Some of the things we do leave us feeling drained, while others feel like the require a lot of energy and yet leave us excited to keep going!

What kinds of things (in your life or the life of another person) have you seen that seem to bring energy out from nowhere, in a person?

2 comments:

RichardM said...

1. Telling some truth that your audience does not expect to hear.
2. Pausing to appreciate something beautiful.
3. Dealing with a problem that you have been avoiding.
4. Admitting a mistake.

Alice Y. said...

Bringing energy out of nowhere is part of what God is, to me. The power of Christ here with us is like a mobile zero point from which an abundance of grace pours forth. When we are connecting with that energy, we are raised up and taught how to live in new ways. 'They who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.' (Isaiah 40:31) - to me the very kernel of Quaker faith is attending to that present energy.