Anybody else desperately and impatiently awaiting the arrival of fall weather?

I’m looking forward to chilly mornings, chunky sweaters…and not sweating during school morning duty. While the weather may not be fully cooperating, fall is already full of all the things.

Back to school. Homework. Practices. Classes.

Etc. Etc. Etc. Etc. Etc. Etc. Etc. Am I right?

This often leaves little time and space for Jesus.

As a teacher, fall is my starting line but has so often felt like the finish line.

Many seasons I have found myself too busy, burnt out, and breaking down before reaching Thanksgiving Break. This has little to do with life’s busyness and burdens, but everything to do with my boundaries.

I think we believe that boundaries are religious rules and restrictions.

We believe that boundaries make us disconnected or disengaged.

Yet so much of God’s work is based on boundary lines.

In the beginning, He separated light from dark.

He placed a gap between the land and the water.

Then, He gave Adam and Eve clear lines to live in.

And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

Genesis 2:16-17

Like Eve did, we cross our boundaries in hopes of getting more,

achieving more, seeing more, and having more, but ultimately fail.

The more is found in the margin.

We must give God a place to come and be present.

We must give God space to speak and room to move.

We must give God a chance to have His will and way.

This can’t happen with packed schedules and piled-up plates.

This can’t happen with minds moving faster than our feet.

This can’t happen without well-defined boundaries.

It’s not that He isn’t able, it’s that we aren’t available.

You may be saying, “But I just can’t.”

“Everybody needs me. I can’t say no.”

“Everything is important. Nothing can go.”

Like Eve, we question whether the boundaries are truly for our good.

But time and time again, I go back to the beginning.

Where boundaries were the basis of creation.

Where boundaries created safe places.

Where boundaries were blessings.

Boundaries aren’t bad in nature.

They are lane lines for all drivers.

They are bumpers for the bad bowler.

They are fences for the dog that runs.

They set us in safe places.

They point us to our purpose.

They keep us close to Him.

I encourage you to not try to do it all this fall.

Say no. Set boundaries. Make room. Set aside time.

Go back to the beginning where boundaries were our blessings.