Living Within the Margins
Making space is the sense of physically, emotionally, and spiritually decluttering. We all hate clutter, don’t we? Clutter makes us feel like our lives are overwhelmingly full. The thought of one more thing added to the mess is enough to cause a full-blown meltdown, often at the expense of our family members. We feel as if we are removing Jenga blocks from one area of our lives and stacking them precariously on top, all the while trying to keep ourselves from toppling.
Making space means creating margin in your life. That’s right, you know the white space around the edge of the page. It’s more than empty space, though. Margin is “the edge or border of something” (thank you, Google). Therefore, making space/margin means creating boundaries in your life in order to safeguard what is good and right in your life. When we feel so cluttered that we are afraid that we will blow any second, it is because there is no margin in our lives.
So, how do we live within the margins?
First of all, realize that you can’t do it all.
Nor are you meant to. Even God rested on the seventh day. Are we more capable, competent, and efficient than God? Are we less in need of rest than God? We are but humans, my friends. Being human, by definition, means that we have limits and boundaries placed on us. We are not immortal. We cannot do all things. This is a hard thing to admit because truthfully, we want to be like God. Sometimes, we think we are actually gods in control of our lives. But it’s an illusion; there is only one God and it sure isn’t us.
Then, with that realization humbling our hearts, here are some very practical tips that might help you create space within the margins of your life:
Say no.
Simple enough, yet incredibly difficult to do! Most likely, all the stuff you have piled on your plate is good and wonderful. The problem is, again, you can’t do it all. So say no to one thing this week in order to give your best self to the places in your life that matter most.
Spend ten minutes in solitude and silence.
Find a quiet corner. Light a candle, if that helps. Set a timer for ten minutes, close your eyes, and begin to let go of the weights you carry. Know that God is there with you in the silence. This is where you can begin to hear his still, small voice again, in ways that you can’t when your life is too cluttered. Do this every day for an entire week.
Be in nature.
Go for a walk. Not for exercise, but to revel in the beauty around you. Yes, even now in January. Sit on a bench and watch the birds. Take your gaze upward and notice the life that is present in the sway of the trees, the bird’s call, and even in the crunch of the snow. Take an hour this week to be in nature.
Create something.
We are creatures created to create by a Creator. Crochet or knit a scarf, sew a quilt, build a shelf, paint a scene, bake bread, plan a garden, weld a fireplace, write a story, take photos, embroider, put together a jigsaw puzzle, sketch old buildings… The list is truly endless. Give yourself two hours and create something for the sheer joy of creating it, knowing that you are reflecting the image of your Creator as you do so.
Making space requires discipline. It chafes against our very human-like way of rushing from one all-consuming event to the next. Yet, it is lifegiving in a way that piling up Jenga blocks doesn’t accomplish. Take one of these tips and carry it out in your week. See what difference space can make… and then tell me about it! I would love to hear about your experiences of making space.
For a one-sheet of these tips and more, join our email list and get a free download of “Six Ways to Make Space in Your Crazy Life.”
For more reading on this topic, check out:
Ahlberg Calhoun, Adele. Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2009.
Barton, Ruth Haley. Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2009. Kindle.
Barton, Ruth Haley. Invitation to Solitude and Silence: Experiencing God’s Transforming Presence. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2010.
Thompson, Curt. The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe About Ourselves. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books. 2015.
