In A Circle of Quiet, Madeleine L’Engle wrote:
During the long drag of years before our youngest child went to school, my love for my family and my need to write were in acute conflict. The problem was really that I put two things first. My husband and children came first. So did my writing. Bump.
The conflict—or collision—of work and family summed up in a word: Bump.
Ouch.
Yet we’re often stuck trying to get it all done without compromising family or work. Is it even possible?
At HighCallingBlogs Wednesday, I rounded up several posts that explored this topic, some of the bloggers expressing frustration and others offering suggestions and solutions.
In the comments, many people opened up with their own responses to these questions:
- How do you handle the collision of work and family?
- How have demanding seasons of work affected your family life?
- Is your current pace “sustainable”?
- What changes have you already made—or what changes could you make—to create a more sustainable life? Have you “trimmed your day,” for example, and simplified?
In fact, Aspire to Lead a Quiet Life wrote a post called “Bumping Around” using the questions as prompts.
Erica at These Three Remain opened up about the struggle to deal with fears and insecurities that get in the way of what she’s gifted to do. She pointed us to “Writing,” in which she wrote about this struggle.
David of Red Letter Believers recommends we wipe our feet at the door.
L.L. Barkat of Seedlings in Stone suggested in the text of the post that we try to trim our days and not even try to do it all; she added in the comments that she thinks of her life as having seasons—and that transitional seasons can be particular bumpy.
Billy Coffey recommends slowing down to pay attention to life.
Ed Cyzewski points out that our expectations can be the thing we bump into.
Maureen, whose thoughts on living a “sustainable” life were included in the main text, commented at length with additional stories from her own life.
Enjoy browsing, and feel free to chime in with your own thoughts!
Click HERE to read the post in its entirety.
“Remember, there is no Bump” photo by Ethan Lofton available through Flickr under a Creative Commons license.
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This is such an interesting topic. My children are grown up and time is still problematic. I am still a mother and have a career. One does not stop being a mother. One does not stop having conflicts.
Pressures are real and although different, they present themselves in similar manner.
I have not read the articles, you referred to, yet but I would like to when there is time. That time thing again……
Thanks for writing this.
Excellent and thought provoking – thanks for sharing Ann! So appreciated the links in this article. The point of intersection between two highly treasured priorities is a difficult decision moment. The God-centered focus of your words as well as many of those who contributed was insightful. Thankful we have an all-knowing and amazingly compassionate Lord to direct our paths as we seek to honor Him with the gift of our time, energy and talents. Thank you!