You know, I thought having the entire month of July to move would be a great thing! And in a lot of ways it is. But in a few ways, not so much.
I love that I didn’t have to rent a moving truck and get the proper parking permits for it. I love that I have enough friends in Boston who have been willing (and had the vehicles) to help with the slow move.
What I don’t love? That half my stuff is in one place and half is in another. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have much stuff to begin with. But even what’s in my old place (where I’m still sleeping) is mostly packed into boxes.
My entire life feels like it’s been put on hold.
And, sadly, it isn’t just the moving that makes it feel that way. I’m between proofreading and copyediting jobs too. (Literally within 3 hours of writing this post and between writing and recording, I got assigned a new proofreading job! Praising God right now!) And I’m waiting to hear back about the job I interviewed for last week. (Prayers for that would be MUCH appreciated!)
So, I am suspended.
I can’t go backward—and I wouldn’t want to even if I could. Nor can I go forward—even though I really want to. I am literally floating here for these two weeks, waiting for the moment when life launches forward again.
So, What Can You Do When You’re Suspended in Time?
There are a lot of things that can be done while suspended. You don’t need to just sit, twiddling your thumbs.
- Do the hobby you love. I know how crazy life can get sometimes. In the busy season, it’s really easy to lose sight of the things you enjoy. Use this time to remember how to enjoy life! Part of prep for last week’s job interview was that I needed to read. That isn’t a huge stretch for me, but I’ve spent the entire summer trying to re-write a book (from scratch with very little salvageable from the original), proofreading and copyediting books for other people, and reading Christian non-fiction to try to better my walk with God. This has left almost no time to read any fiction for fun. To prep, I needed to have some current popular titles under my belt, things that I could actually talk about with some authority, so I read! And it was a great reminder that I can still read for fun, as long as it doesn’t take over my life.
- Spend time with your loved ones. This might seem like a no-brainer, but even when you’re with your family or friends, are you actually with them? Or are you focused on the device in your hand or thinking about what comes next? You aren’t promised tomorrow. So, take today and make it matter.
- Evaluate your life. Look at where you used to be, then look at where you are now. It can feel like you haven’t made it very far, but this season of suspension may be a huge opportunity to reflect and see just how far you’ve come. It could give you a deeper appreciation for where you are right now. Or, on the other hand, it could be life’s way of showing you that you’ve been trying to force yourself down a path that you don’t even want to be on.
- Breathe. If nothing else, this moment of time will be over soon, and you’ll probably wish for a moment of peace again before too long. So breathe. Breathe in, breathe out. Soak in the silence. Thank God for a moment of stillness.
The good news is, this suspended moment doesn’t last forever. For some situations, it can last longer than others. It can feel like it’s gone on too long and it’s time to throw in the towel and just give up.
But if it means something to you, if it’s something you truly desire, and there isn’t anything harmful in waiting a little longer, just hold on. Some things are worth the suspense.
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Brittany Stonestreet 