The other night, I sat on the couch, staring at the cursor on my laptop. You’ve had that experience, haven’t you? Where you sit there, staring at a blank box with a deadline looming heavy over your head. And there sits that cursor. Blinking. I was considering dressing up as a blinking curser the next time I get invited to a costume party. I’d blink my eyes a lot and say bad words. Thank goodness my husband broke into my reverie:
“Let it rest,” he was saying.
“Huh?” I said to him, trying to pull myself away from the hypnotic beat of the cursor.
“Let it rest,” he said again. “Close the laptop, and let it be.”
“But…” I began.
“It will still be there tomorrow,” he said. “Nothing will have changed, and nothing is going to change, just because you sit here, staring at that screen.”
He had a point. So I closed it. Let it rest. Let it be. And the whole entire world opened up in front of me. Just like that.
I remembered outside and music and food and laughter and holding hands and the sound of snow melting from the roof overhanging our front porch. I remembered fresh air and sunshine.
My husband and I hopped on our bikes and rode a few miles to the lake nearby. We sat on a bench that faced the setting sun, and we talked about the future and what we hope will be and what we’re glad we’ve done, and where we’ve been.
On the way home, we stopped next to a young boy and his dad, also on their bikes. We waited for the light to turn green, and the little boy was saying, “There are millions of us, racing across the street!” He hunched low over his handlebars, imagining a throng of bike racers, waiting for the starting gun. “One! Two! Three! Four! Five!” he shouted above the whoosh of cars passing by; and then the light turned green and we were off! All five million of us, in the race of our lives.
The boy and his dad turned off once we crossed the street, but my husband and I pedaled hard and we shouted into the wind, “One! Two! Three! Four! Five!” and laughed out loud as the sun spilled pink and orange across the horizon.
Sometimes, the blinking cursor gets more credit than it’s due, you know?
Leave a Comment
Amy Hunt says
This made me smile.
Kimberly says
This is the loveliest piece I’ve read all week. I felt the sun on my face and the wind in my hair as I read it:) It had me wishing I dreamed as big and as free as that little boy, and his millions of racers. Thanks, Deidra:)
Linda Stoll says
;-}
mmm … Deidra, I love this! I’ve gotten to the point where I figure that either there’s something to say or there isn’t. I don’t even bother trying if it’s not right there, ready to urgently spill forth from heart to fingertips to keyboard.
So … we close the lids. And move on to experience life that’s waiting patiently right in front of us. For that’s where the next creative brainstorm, another wild dream, a compelling thought emerges out of the haze.
Let your soul rest, my friend. And savor that weekend ahead!
I’m praying!
Missy says
Oh, yes. it. does. I love that you were able to shout into the wind and laugh hard. All because you let it be. That’s some mighty encouragement!
Lynn Burgess says
Love this! I am always telling my husband this very thing. He is so connected to his electronic itoys. π
There’s a great big world out there to enjoy for real instead of vicariously through someone on facebook, twitter or whatever.
Thank you for the reminder!
Pam says
I really do LOVE this!
Courtney says
Love this. Yesterday, I said “no” to various chores (and a blinking cursor) and “yes” to a bike ride with my 4 year old. As we rode around the block he exclaimed, “Whoo-hoo!” just for the pure joy of a sunny day on a bike. Then he rode through a giant puddle over and over again, until he was wet and happy. It was an absolute joy and privilege for me to watch that.
Becky says
Oh, so true! The finest times in my life came when I got off line and got back online with life. But make no mistakes! Keep opening it up…we appreciate your (in)couragement π
Linda says
This makes me want to weep Deidra. It is so timely. Just thank you.
Dana Butler says
Deidra, thank you for this! I love how the best inspiration comes when we quit trying so hard to find it.
I love your bike ride story. I AM that little kid inside. π
Thanks.
Laura Rath says
Isn’t it funny how sometimes we can’t do something until we’ve given ourselves permission? This week I’ve had to give myself permission to be sick…to stay home from work and let some things go…permission to rest and take care of myself without the guilt.
Great post Deidra!
Mary says
The best! Absolutely!! Just what I needed to read…thank you, Deidra.
shadowwonder says
Truth, plain and simple. Love.
Jenni Saake "InfertilityMom" says
One, Two, Three, Four, Five! π Thanks for the reminders.
Marina says
Yay! Thanks for sharing!
I’ve never struggled with closing the laptop – never given myself that pressure to *have to blog* (but, oh, I’ve had a few deadlines for writing that have frustrated me that way!)
I’m glad you saw your spot in the 5 million racers π
I’m praying for you, these last days before Jumping Tandem…finding perfect peace, rest, and seeing a God-sized dream be birthed… (And excited to see you speak your written words!)
Barefoot Hippie Girl says
So true. I have found when I am facing writer’s block, it does know good to try to write. I clean or run or talk to a friend or read. And that often gets the thoughts flowing. Much more productive.=) I really enjoyed this post.
Diana Trautwein says
What a gift you are in my life, Deidra Riggs. I loved every single word of this piece and I loved seeing you and H in my mind’s eye as you rode those bikes and had that talk. Thank you.
Heather says
Thank you for this reminder, Deidra. This is just what I needed to read this morning! Not just about the blinking cursor on the laptop, but also about the list of chores and to-do’s today. This was just the encouragement I needed to be a little more present and enjoy the other delights right at my finger tips (time to bake while my son is sleeping, taking a walk in the beautiful springtime air when he wakes, etc.). I love your story telling! Thank you π
Felecia Wong says
So true …. thank you for writing and reminding.
Maxine Gonzalez says
Thanks for the reminder…. to let things rest. I have faced just this…. curser blinking! We need to take a break from and unplug otherwise I fear that life is passing us by. Our GOD is right outside our door with beauty and sunsets as a gift for us! Thank you for this encouraging post!
~Karrilee~ says
Aaah such freedom awaits when we close the laptop (and inspiration too – for the next time we must open it back up and turn it on!) Loved this!
Christy Fitzwater says
These are precious words to me right now. I’m going to go mow my lawn and step away from the computer. THANKS.
Lisa says
It is sometimes hard to remember that there is life outside the online world. We should never need permission to live life. I’m glad your husband granted you that and that you had fun.
Shelly Miller says
Love this. Love the way God made you, that you ride your bike with H and he loves you enough to tell you to let it be. Sounds like my H. We’re so lucky.
Jennifer says
I have definitely had moments where closing my laptop represents freedom. God has been teaching me to wait on Him and not force words. It is so much better that way! π
Barbara says
WONDERFUL WORDS! WHAT AN INSPIRATION! TO HAVE THE CAREFREE MIND OF A CHILD…………THANK YOU SO MUCH DEIDRA!
Michelle DeRusha says
Awesome-ist post ever. I think I say that every single time I read something you wrote. Seriously though. I so needed to read this. That boy, racing with the millions. Isn’t that just it? Except I’m always all hunkered down, breathless, chanting Must. Beat. Millions. But that boy has it right: embrace it, feel the joy, the exhilaration, the thrill of the race! It’s not about beating the millions, it’s about racing WITH the millions.
There is SO much here. Can you tell I could go on and on about this?!
Lesley says
This is great! I can completely relate to spending fruitless hours on my laptop instead of enjoying the world around me.
Fonda says
Smiles! You make me want to share a good laugh with those I love today. Thanks for the reminder to LIVE.
Bev Duncan@ Walking Well With God says
Often the best ideas come, at least for me, when I am the furthest away from my laptop or even a pen and paper! Thanks for the reminder that sitting and staring at the cursor will not make the thoughts magically flow. Get out. Live life. And, God will whisper inspiration in our ear when we least expect it!
Blessings,
Bev
Jessica @The Mom Creative says
This happened to me this week. I had deadlines looming, but had worked all day and the last thing I wanted to do was write some more.
My husband said, just don’t write tonight. Let’s just rest. And we did. And it was good.
Laura Brown says
Blinking curser. [Shakes head. Grins.]
Beth Williams says
I, too, tire of electronics and blinking cursors. Using a computer all day at work sometimes I just want to take a walk, ride a bike, listen to music and dance. Anything but look at a blinking cursor and type or use a computer. π
Marcy says
Amen and amen!!! I didn’t have any one in one time with the cursor yesterday and feel refreshed. Thanks for putting this into words Deidre!
Lessons Learned in 3D — Wise Hearts | 3dLessons4Life's Blog says
[…] you ever stared at the cursor on your computer with not a thing to say? Β Deidra has. Β I love her sage advice shared over at (in) […]
nancy ruegg says
Thank you, Deidre! Sometimes the simplest action provides the most powerful effect. I’ll have to remember: when the tyranny of the blinking cursor makes me crazy, the best antidote is an excursion outdoors. Heart-thrilling inspiration can be found in God’s glorious creation. Bev Duncan said it well, above.