Respite: A short interval of rest or relief

Healing takes a lot of energy.

“We must not allow the clock and the calendar to blind us to the fact that each moment of life is a miracle and mystery.”

– H. G. Wells

Each moment becomes “precious” when we confront the concept that time is not infinite. Indeed, there does come an end to the time we spend working, playing, loving, laughing, sharing, and serving. We may reflect on our priorities and rate the top ways in which we would like to spend our time and then truthfully list the amounts of time we actually spend in those endeavors. Do the priorities match up?

If our desires do not coincide with our actual activities, what are we to do then? After all, bills still need to be paid, appointments kept and responsibilities met. Ironically, when we find ourselves with an unlimited amount of “free time” – possibly due to a job loss or an unexpected illness – we rarely use the time to appreciate those free moments as times to do all the things we wished we could do when we were much busier.

But as a Physician’s Assistant recently cautioned me after an operation, “Healing takes a lot of energy.” So whether we are healing from a physical, emotional or psychological wound, we must be kind and gentle with ourselves, always becoming aware of the miracle and mystery of life.

– Connie Popp

Dr. Connie PoppDr. Connie Popp is a board member for The Center for Life Transitions as well as an active facilitator for the Center’s Life-SHIFT and Job Search Courage programs. She is also the Director of Campus Ministry at Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Read more.