There are several challenges associated with the process of learning to rest. The 'how-to' parts have been the biggest hurtle for me, but there are other variables that present obstacles too - finding time to rest, and finding places that are restful. In a household of homeschooled teens these elements often make even the idea of resting seem ludicrous. And yet if God has called me to this season then there must be ways and means that I haven't explored yet.

For the past few Wednesdays I've been rousted out of bed earlier than usual to drive my eldest two girls into Surrey for tutoring sessions with their math teacher. While they sit and work under his supervision, I sit in the car and wait...for two hours. This wouldn't be so bad if that was the only time during the week that I was asked to sit around while they go about their activities. At first I was frustrated, feeling as though this was wasted time - time when I could be making dinner, or putting in another load of laundry, or making lessons to ease the passage of the school week. However, now I'm recognizing the rare opportunity for some real quiet time. When I was sharing this with a friend she laughed out loud and remarked that "God has great sense of humor".

At home, the kids activities and lives overflow into all the living spaces - from kitchen and bathroom counters to every available table-top and the majority of our room downstairs.  Computers, school books, and science experiments can be found anywhere. Although I try and keep a handle on how far the work spreads, inevitably at some point during the week  I have to reclaim some space. Even the living room isn't guaranteed to be a school free zone as piano practice occurs there for up to three hours every day, and knitting and bracelet-making projects can sit around for days waiting for that sought-after free moment.

When the kids were little, my husband and I were assured some quiet time in the evenings when everyone was tucked into bed by eight o'clock. I used to enjoy unwinding on the couch with a good book or escaping into a good TV program. Long gone are those days! Now I am often surrendering to sleep hours before the kids finally go to bed. And, on the weekends if they have friends over...You get the point.

When my daughters attend their dance and sewing lessons I have an hour and a half to 'kill'. (I don't like that turn of phrase!) Sometimes I have used that time to read a book, but lately I'm learning to just sit still and enjoy the silence. Yesterday I felt drawn to take a short trip up to the Abbey, a local monastery set high up in the Mission hills. I wasn't even sure if it was open to the public at that time of day but I drove over in hopes that it would be, and it was! Although I only had about half-an-hour before they closed the main gate, I parked by the chapel and followed the little winding path that leads to a beautiful look-out point. My heart leapt for joy as I stood there overlooking the beauty of the valley and watched the mist snake along the river until it disappeared somewhere beyond the horizon. Absolutely exhilarating in the crisp, cold evening air!

I am starting to recognize when the opportunity to rest is offered. And, I'm saying "yes" to those invitations. I am beginning to grab hold of those moments and instead of stuffing them full of activity I'm learning to savor them. Ah! What a feeling - freedom from the tyranny of "doing".