Several weeks ago I mentioned to a friend how I was trying so hard to enjoy every moment, but felt like I was actually just ruining the time for everyone through some kind of weird forced bonding exercise. I felt like I was squeezing a dry sponge. My friend gently reminded me to savor, not squelch. And this last month at home before my next adventure, that’s exactly what I have been trying to do.
I’ve learned a lot about savoring. In savoring one must be slow and attentive and appreciative. The art of savoring involves letting go of previously held expectations and, as Henri Nouwen writes, “creating space in which something can happen that you hadn’t planned or counted on.”
Savoring means…
sweet potato fries,
festive Christmas lights,
warm hugs,
Nana’s hot chocolate,
caroling with the pizza delivery guy,
the deep gut wrenching kind of laughter brought on by a game of Christmas charades,
prayer huddles,
the kind of “How are you?” that actually begs a genuine response,
and re-living the “college days” through the loud and ever evolving group story telling method.
Savoring means running outside as soon as the snow flakes start to flurry. It means creatively enticing my little sister to come with me for the snow celebration, skipping in the middle of the street, holding hands and singing “Let it Snow” at the top of our lungs. And it involves using a steaming cup of Nana’s Hot Chocolate for bargaining purposes, of course.
Savoring is the annual Rogg Christmas cookie decorating party.
Savoring is hugging the kiddos I’ve spent the last several months sharing life with one more time and squeezing them tighter than usual.
“I miss you already, Daniela!”
It means getting teary eyed. And letting that be okay.
Savoring is being the only one over the age of fourteen on the Christmas lights tour (besides the fearless bus driver, of course) and shamelessly leading one more round of “Feliz Navidad.” It’s dashing between hundreds of Christmas penguin inflatables while having a snowball fight with my little friends.
Savoring means brunch with Gram and Gramps at our favorite breakfast place.
Savoring is my precious family gathering around me in a giant prayer huddle…aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, sisters, parents…everybody. It’s them praying over my time on the World Race, my entire team, and all the people we will come into contact with.
Savoring means an extra game of nerts on New Year’s Eve.
Savoring is 3 hour packing skype dates with a heart friend, frequently stopping for “breaks” to read each other poems and nuggets from our favorite books.
Savoring is what I desire to do over these next 11 months. Every person we meet, every place we stay, every strange food we consume, every ministry host we spend time with, I want to savor and not squelch. This means letting go of every expectation I have, and asking God for more of Himself.
