Lingering in the Lazy


My Spring Break has come to an end, and I was sad to see it go, but it was a lovely nine days. Long and deliciously lazy. I largely spent the days bundled up in a blanket on the couch, my purring cat in my lap, and a book in my hands.

However, what I enjoyed the most about Spring Break was the absolute lack of any guilt at doing absolutely nothing. I enjoyed it so very much and felt no guilt whatsoever at taking time for rest. In fact, the whole family did. We were all in deep need of a break, and so I believe our Spring Break was spent in the best possible way: in a sweetly lazy, lingering week. Late wake-ups and hurkle-durkling (look it up; you’ll like it), slow mornings, and no compulsion to go anywhere just to “get out of the house”. I simply did not have the energy to rush around try to do all the things in a week or be away from home without all that makes me comfy. Home is what I needed! What we all needed!

It was also interesting to see how our cat Jack reacted to us lingering at home all week. Instead of being peeved with us intruding on his quiet empty-house days, he chose to linger, too, soaking up all the lap time and snuggles that he could. We napped together in the afternoons; he snuggled up to me or nested nearby while I read or watched television. He just lingered in our presence, in my lap, at Ben’s feet, or on the floor of Elizabeth’s room (or in their bed, which he prefers).

All in all, it was a precious few days spent lingering in all the things that refresh and rejuvenate me and in the presence of those dearest to me. I even got to have birthday dinner with one of my wifey-besties and brunch with my fabulous in-laws!

Do not be afraid to linger in the lazy, dear ones. Sometimes, the “lack” of anything to do–or the straight-up choice to just not–is just what our soul needs to catch up with us again.

Happy lingering!

Lingering #2


Greeting cards have all been sent; the Christmas rush is through…

As the hustle and bustle of the Holidays come to an end and we stretch into these liminal days between Christmas and New Year’s, I find myself wanting to linger on in the softness of the season. I do not want to give up that special, magical quality just yet. As I contemplate resetting the house for the New Year, I find myself really hesitant to let go of the comfort I find in the glowing, twinkling lights. I just want to linger in the sweetness and the gentleness of that glow.

I have gone so far as to consider something that I have never done before: not taking down my Christmas tree. Or, at least, not all the way. I am strongly considering taking off the ornaments but leaving the tree itself up and wrapped in its lights, preserving that soft, magical twinkling in my home throughout the new year. I may or may not go so far as to decorate the tree for other holidays, but I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

Right now, though, I just want the soothing softness of light, the magical glimmer in the corner of my eye. I welcome it to linger and last for as long as possible.

Advent 2024 ~ Lingering


Lingering

There is a distinctly Midwestern habit that no one can deny, and that is the tendency to linger. It is not only Midwestern but very Caribbean as well. I remember it from my childhood.

After-Sunday-dinner dozing in the lawn chairs on my grandmother’s porch while my mother lingered on with her inside at the kitchen table.

Lingering over Christmas dinners at a favorite restaurant with one of my favorite teachers and her family.

Our youth group leaders taking us out for late-night Wendy’s and then taking their time dropping us all home after Friday night youth group. Letting us linger on in the church bus together, chatting and laughing and singing our choir pieces. I often wasn’t home until midnight.

Now, as an adult, I find I have developed a surprisingly deep love for lingering.

It may be lingering in the foyer or on the front step of a house after an enjoyable get-together.

It might be loitering over cooling cups of coffee, loathe for such a delightful visit to end.

It is curling more tightly into a chair or couch in your reluctance to break the sweet spell of good company.

Or pulling an embrace closer, hating the idea of leaving their solid or gentle warmth behind.

This is the season for lingering. For remaining in the quiet moments when you choose to rest. Tarrying in the snuggles of children, partners, and furry friends. Taking long moments in the soothing glow of twinkle lights.

It is for pausing, bundled up, on the porch to enjoy the beautifully profound quiet of a snowfall.

We linger in the ringing notes of a Noel as it hangs, ethereal, in the air above our heads.

As we wait in the glimmer of candles and lights, may we reach for the hand of a cherished one nearby. Even a silent, sweet gesture is still Love.

Love still lingers in fewer gifts.

Love still lingers in perhaps a lessening of those gathered around the dinner table. 

Love still lingers in the simple invitation to sit and be.

In this Advent season, let’s remain in the love born and given to us in the humblest of means. May we linger in the truth that we are not alone, that we are loved.

Let us linger in the quiet, peaceful moments, however rare. May we hold them ever closer and treasure them as they deserve.

Lingering in Grace


Here we are: the month is half over. And I don’t know what to say, what more I can write about grace. I’ve been lingering over the thought all day, though no epiphanies have come. I am trying to keep lingering in mind so I suppose I’ll just…write, shall I? Today, I read Jennifer Dukes Lee’s beautiful blog post about tucking oneself away and lingering in karios (the right, opportune, or supreme moment). It struck my heart hard, in a good way.

{“We are addicted to hustle, deadlines, speaking before we think, clock-watching, and constant movement. We are unsure how to live in kairos time — that big-picture awareness of eternity where time stands still.”}

Truthfully, I’m worn out today. I graded close to six classes’ worth of assignments, two sets per class nonetheless. It’s hard to linger when you have deadlines to meet, especially self-imposed ones. It’s hard to linger when I’m supposed to be blogging about grace. Maybe today is a day to give myself some grace.

Maybe today is the day to tell myself that it’s okay. That I don’t have to be earth-shattering or awe-inspiring. That I can just do as I have always done, love, linger, and remember that the world is still beautiful.

Thank you, Jennifer. I needed that.