How to Fill Spare Time - Simply Elliott

As the first week of November is here, I find myself both anxious and excited for this new chapter in my professional life. While I know I will be quite busy over the next few weeks, I can’t help but ponder what my days will soon look like. I indeed will be finalizing new employment for myself & attempting to assist the husband doing the same, realistically working out the logistics of moving & donating the excess we have somehow accumulated these past few years, and keeping the apartment in working order until then.

But inevitably, I will have some excess time on my hands and I long to be intentional with those moments during this transition. To utilize this time for restoration and growth, if you will. Writing of course tops the list, though I must admit all my most poignant thoughts seem to come while I am driving or about to fall asleep and rarely when I have the opportunity to even jot them down, let alone sit with minimal distractions. Perhaps this time will allow for a better system to capture those lingering reflections.

Reading is another activity that naturally will see an increased focus. I just finished (for about the 7th time) The Perks of Being a Wallflower as the movie finally came out in our area. A delightfully honest read once again, and I am pleased to say the movie followed suit. I even convinced the husband to go with me and he actually enjoyed it. I am convinced he went in with rather low expectations, assuming it was a chick flick, but he rather enjoyed it as well given it’s raw and real nature. I highly recommend both the book and movie as it reminds us that everyone has a story. Otherwise, I have a lengthy list of novels to conquer, and welcome any reccommendations! We are also currently reading Through My Eyes by Tim Tebow with our book/supper club and I have some mixed emotions on the contents. Review to come soon…

On a side note, we’re rather enjoying our little gatherings with these other two couples. We gather casually as our schedules allow and share a meal and discuss the book, life, and just about everything else. We are quite blessed with how this came to be and thankful for a pastor who actively seeks to ensure community needs are met and for my sweet mother in law being faithful in prayer and opening up an avenue of conversation that otherwise may never had occurred. Aside from that book, I am also finally reading the book I mentioned in the post discussing something that matters. I had put it on my birthday list, but actually ended up winning a free, signed copy! The author had tweeted about another blogger doing a giveaway, so I headed over to her site and checked it out. After leaving a comment, I was one of two chosen at random to receive a copy of Quitter, but more than that I received a great deal of encouragement. It was so confirming to hear these words she wrote:

In Quitter, Jon Acuff talks about a job where he was working in marketing for a company that was known as a playground for engineers. He likens this to trying to swim on a tennis court…both sports are completely legitimate, but totally different. He wanted it to be a cool, hip, creative place. It was a highly technical “geek paradise.” He was miserable.
Everyone is wired up differently, and you can be doing the most noble thing in the world, but if it isn’t aligned with what is deep in your heart and what makes you come alive, then you’re trying to swim on a tennis court.

And it has really created an opening for His grace and peace to cover me. I am learning to not take the jests so personally and all in good humor that I am now unemployed. That it was decision on my part, and not one someone else made for me. That there is no defect in that choice. I’m learning that I can still be an example, a witness, and a contributing member of society, despite not adhering to a more corporate schedule. I am excited to use this new found availability to be able to serve without hesitation. To give of my time instead of simply my financial resources.

Our church has recently partnered with Ransom Cafe, a restaurant that operates on volunteers and donations to meet a local physical and spiritual need: hunger. One of our friends has been actively volunteering now that the ministry has started serving meals at CUMC, and this week I am hoping to get involved as well! Aside form this opportunity, my goal is to be productive during this time, capitalizing on each chance to share love. To be open to what He is teaching me and how He is molding me. To continue to grow into the woman he is shaping me to be and not stand idly by as the world continues to spin.

I continually ask for your prayers and we move forward, seeking his guidance and providence.

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