In the Quiet

When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. (Proverbs 10:19)

...let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak... (James 1:19)

Before my quest for a quiet life, I spent a great deal of time worrying about blogging, particularly what and how often I would write. I followed the social media pundits who claimed that if I wanted to have a successful blog, I needed to post frequently, leave comments on a huge number of blogs, and always respond to comments on my own.  The dream of having a must-read blog and a book deal has vanished. These days I grapple with writing one post per week; it's a battle I lose more often than not. And I'm okay with that.

There will always be a part of me that longs to write, to see the words of my soul in print. Yet it seems to me that posting when I have nothing of import to write is at cross purposes with living a quiet life. I need to guard my tongue and my keyboard against self-indulgence and self-worship. I need to shut my "social-media-motor-mouth" (HT: Jared Wilson, from his must-read article about self- worship in today's church), as well as my human mouth.

And so these days find me being more introspective than usual.

...working on restraining my lips and fingertips.

...adjusting to this season of taking in, rather than letting out.

...challenging myself to be quick to hear  - the Word through a Bible reading plan, a commentary, and the gospel preached each Sunday - and slow to speak or type.

...learning lessons by reading intentionally (and letting some books go unfinished).

...seeking to apply these lessons to my heart, to model them in service to those I love.

In short, I am striving to live well and to live quietly.



..aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.~1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

Comments

Anonymous said…
Freeing, isn't it? When I first started blogging I put myself under ridiculous pressure. What was I thinking??-- After all we do this for free, right? ha! Now I write only when I really want to and take breaks whenever I feel like it and for however long I want. I also don't pay attention to what the pundits have to say about how we "should or shouldn't" blog. Oye. Who cares? Writing just to keep the machine rolling doesn't suit me either Melissa.

"social-media-motor-mouth" - too funny!

Popular posts from this blog

Not Feeding the Frenzy

A Quiet Life

What I Learned During My Social Media Vacation