How is your margin?
It’s that time of year that some of us have come to dread: those post-Christmas and pre-springtime days where sunshine is scarce, cold viruses roam free, and the workload can feel oppressive. It’s at times like these that we’re reminded to step back and offer ourselves a little kindness. Chrissy Jeske’s two-part series on finding margin in one’s life is a good place to start if you’ve forgotten how to be a good friend to yourself.
“In losing margins, I lose the moments that make life beautiful. Margins are what keep me kind to my children, in love with my husband, able to listen, ready to serve, happy, healthy, learning, alert, alive…. I’ve heard it said that God is a God of the margins — he loves to enter into lives of marginal people, but he also slips into the margins of our life. But only if we leave space.”
Sometimes the best way to carve out those margins is to ask for what we want and what we need — not in a self-serving way, but in a way that honors the work and gifts that God has given to us. Liuan Huska’s reflection on “giving herself a raise” shows one way to start and offers thoughtful questions for consideration. Where might you need to place more value on your work and time so that you can continue to pursue your holy calling?
“I’m giving myself a raise in order to protect these holy margin spaces – the spaces where productivity stops and the prophetic imagination activates. I’m giving myself a raise so I can work less and play more. So I can discern what work I really want to be doing. So I can live into a world where everyone has meaningful work and receives enough in return to eat, play, rest, and be fully alive.”
You’re Invited!
Weekly Prayer. Prayer meetings have begun! For more information visit The Well. We hope to see you there!
Spring Book Club. The Women Scholars and Professionals Spring Book Club begins February 28 and we’ll be discussing Jeff Haanen's Working from the Inside Out: A Brief Guide to Inner Work That Transforms Our Outer World. Join us as we explore how the work of inner transformation leads to external transformation, including how we engage with our work. Click through to register!
Grant opportunity! The Christian Scholars Foundation Legacy Grant for junior faculty. Are you an early career Christian faculty member at a pluralistic institution? You may be eligible to apply for this research grant.
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Are you an InterVarsity alum? Use promo code IVCFALUMNI to get a 25% discount at ivpress.com.
Believers in Business Conference 2024. MBA ministry is excited to announce the 19th annual Believers in Business Conference February 23-24, 2024. Their vision is to inspire and equip attendees to become believers who are radically inspiring to others in all areas of their lives. Registration is still open — and scholarships are available!
Four More Things We Loved This Week
How do you view midlife? Apparently, it doesn’t need to be a crisis. Whew!
A blessing of breathing for those who need a reminder. (Don’t we all?)
Want to learn from a master? Karen Swallow Prior blows us away with her teaching on Sonnet 18.
This cheesy bean-focused supper feels like magic for those looking for an easy meal to please the crowd at home.