His yoke is easy

Happy Monday, everybody!  And hey, "happy Monday" is NOT an oxymoron!  :)  I woke up to sunshine coming through the window, a day filled with the work I love, and the health to do it...what's not to like?  ;)

See, I've been sick for a few weeks.  Again.  Grr!  I don't get sick like this.  It was some sort of bronchitis, a deep chest infection, the kind where you spend all your time in bed because you just don't have the energy to do ANYTHING else.  Not even watch movies or read books.  I coughed all night and slept all day.  My chest hurt and my voice sounded froggy.  And when I did get better enough to watch movies and read books, I quickly learned to avoid funny ones, because laughing set off the coughing again!

I'm still coughing a bit, but I'm awfully happy to conclude this unplanned hiatus from normal life (and blogging).  I've gotten behind on pretty much everything one can get behind on, haha... :P  Honestly, I was behind before getting sick, but now it's reached such epic proportions that I'm really kind of beyond worrying about it, if that makes sense.  I'm just working through the tasks as I can.  Everything will get done...all in good time.  I just don't have the health to push too hard.  No more late-night photo-editing sessions for a while!

OK, moment of honesty: in spite of the nuisance, it was good to be sick.  God had something He wanted to talk to me about.  No, He didn't want me to be sick and hurting and tired, I pretty much brought that one on myself!  But the situation was most convenient for Him to raise an issue with me.  He is never so near as when we are at the end of our rope, for whatever reason -- whether we brought it on ourselves or not.  And He wanted some time with me.

All my adult life I've struggled with over-committing myself, taking on too much, trying to squeeze more out of a normal 24-hour day.  (For that matter, I was always busy when I was a kid, too, just ask my mom.)  As if the Creator of both me and that 24-hour day didn't know best!  But no, I pack those 24 hours like sardines in a tin, with similar results -- things come out of that tin kinda squashed.  And I end up exhausted, bogged-down, burdened.

I'm pretty sure that's not how He meant life to be.  I'm pretty sure there's no Bible verse that says, "He leadeth me to exhaustion; He runneth me ragged."  That's not His design for us.  He says "my yoke is easy and my burden is light."  He knows what He designed us to carry.  Would the creator of a fine Swiss watch try to use that kind of clockwork to drive a truck?  Not likely.

Instead...resting in Him.  Giving Him my schedule, my time, my strength, my willpower.  Slowing down.  Stopping not just to smell the flowers (hey, I do plenty of that already...and then photograph them!) but to talk to their Maker and enjoy His presence.  And releasing my heart to Him in that moment, inviting Him into it, and giving Him control over my day.

Why?  Because He knows what will make me happiest.  He knows what He created me to do, and what I can do in a day.  And His companionship throughout my day is what makes any job come alive.  Like Brother Lawrence in his kitchen -- even if he was just washing dishes, he was in the presence of the Lord of all the earth, enjoying His company.  His presence sweetens any task.

So I've begun to break the habit of taking on too much.  My loving heavenly Father is the one who should get control of my schedule.  I'm leaving time to breathe...to play the piano, take a swim, whatever.  As Matthew West says, in this song I recently came across, to "Stop the World" and have some time with Him.

I'm learning to set down burdens He doesn't intend me to carry, and to come to Him...and find rest for my soul.  His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.

- Kelsey

Discovering beauty...

Kelsey Schweickert  |  San Francisco Bay Area wedding photographer
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Thoughts from a ski lift

I love to ski. A lot. As you can tell.  Any chance I can get up to Tahoe, I’ll go. It’s been such a fun gift from the Lord these last few years. I’ve had problems with my knees for a long time, and I figured they probably wouldn’t be able to handle downhill skiing. But somehow, as I’ve skied regularly and built up technique and strength these last few winters, they’ve been OK. It’s like God just smiled at me and said, “Here, take this—enjoy it.”  And I did.  ;)

Last week I went up to Sugar Bowl with my brother Chris and my parents one last time before the resort closed for the season. The snow got really slushy in the afternoon, so my parents decided to call it a day, and I headed over to the Lincoln peak to join Chris for a couple last runs.

As I rode up the Lincoln lift for the last time, at the end of the last Sugar Bowl ski day of the season, a wave of sadness swept over me. Sugar Bowl is so dear to me. It’s about more than just skiing. It’s been a tremendous part of my life these last four years. Good times learning to ski from Dad, my dear first ski instructor…conquering fear and pushing my limits…struggling so much with my bad knees for those first couple seasons…taking lessons, improving, learning how to use my body so my knees weren’t so stressed, building up strength and skill…good times with God and family and friends…it’s a special place. Not that other resorts aren't cool; I’ve had plenty of good times at Squaw and Heavenly and so on. Hey, I like snow anywhere! But Sugar Bowl is special. It’s about more than skiing. So it’s no wonder that I felt a little nostalgic and melancholy as I rode up that lift for the last time this season...wouldn't you?

At that moment it was like the Lord put His hand on my shoulder and said “My dear girl, what about all the good things I gave you this season? We’ve had all kinds of good times, you know!” I looked around at the beautiful snow-covered peaks and realized—if I mourn the fact that the season is over, I miss the point. I should be reveling in all the goodness He has given me here! I’ve gotten to ski a lot this season. I’ve gone this whole time without getting hurt, even minor injuries. I’ve learned and improved a ton. I have grand memories of many good ski days here this season, including this very fun final day with Dad and Mom and Chris. I’ve seen a lot of beauty here, surrounded by snow and cliffs and trees and clouds, and I’ll carry the mental pictures of that beauty wherever I go. I’ve made new friends and had good times with them—John, Spencer and Laurine; many helpful instructors like Danny and Craig and Alex. I’ve tried out the new Summit chair many times and conquered some fears about skiing more challenging terrain.

It’s all about gratefulness. Even when the situation looks bleak, God has always given us so much goodness that goes un-thanked. At the most fundamental level, He gave me life and his love and the opportunity to call him Father and Friend. He gave me a body that works, parents who love me, a beautiful place to live, work I enjoy, and countless other things. How often do I just sit down and spend some time thinking about all these things? Thanking him for them?

I can focus on the fact that I have to wait eight months till I experience the joy of skiing Sugar Bowl again, and get all gloomy—or I can thank God for the abundant good things He gave me this season. It’s a choice, where to put my focus. I can make an agreement in my heart about sadness and fear of the future; or I can pay attention to the goodness of God and be grateful and happy. Because gratefulness makes you happy!

So the rest of that ride up Lincoln, instead of being all gloomy that the season was over, I thought over the many good gifts Jesus has given me there, and he and I had a little grateful-party. And I was happy.

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits” (Ps. 68:19).

(Thanks, Chris, for the photos!)



- Kelsey Schweickert

Discovering beauty...

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