Let Me Tell You About My Pool OverFlowing: A Metaphor for Curating Capacity

The one hundred degree Fahrenheit heat index (also known as go-outside-get instantly incinerated while simultaneously melting) hovered as oppressively as the dark clouds over the backyard.

I poured my morning coffee as I quickly scanned the landscaping then the pool. The bright yellow hose caught my eye. It freely gushed water into the pool. 

Odd. It’s supposed to be hooked up to the automatic water leveler. 

My eyes moved a few feet to the right. Water sloshed millimeters from the pool's concrete rim. 

Mid-sip, I spat out my coffee. “Dang!”

In thick fluffy robe and flip flops, I ran out to the pool. I texted a picture of the pool pump to my husband, the self-proclaimed pool-guru, who was miles away on a trip. 

“How do I drain the water?”

As I wrenched the drain handle free, the skies broke open upon me. I ran inside, but the downpour continued for three hours. A perpetual fire hydrant's water pressure gushed from our pool pump for exactly that long. 

My nearly overflowing pool holds a dire warning: plan for the overflow.

Real Life Overflowing

On a regular basis, my capacity runs full to the brim with commitments, projects, and life. I can go from one day to the next without realizing the hose that fills me up with rest and inspiration is indeed unhooked. 

When unplanned rain (stress, crisis, etc.) comes as it certainly will, do I even know how to drain the excess?

In the next month…

• My daughter will move into her first apartment

• My sister and I will host my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary celebration

• My son will start his junior year of school

• I will begin a new school gig (more on that later)

Every morning, I wonder what I can let go of? I don’t want to be that coffee-spitting, cursing-under-my-breath pool maintenance technician again!

I wonder if you can relate.

Expect Storms

Maybe you’re wrapping up summer vacation, preparing for a new job, soaking up core memories with kiddos, or grieving the loss of someone dear. Perhaps you are working on a major project, struggling with a difficult coworker, or renovating your home.

 Most of us are doing are darndest and wondering if its ever enough.

 We live our lives exponentially more full than anyone in generations past. Thus, we are constantly at risk of overflowing.

 The question is: how do we ensure our automatic water levelers are intact and hooked up properly? It takes some thoughtful experimentation.

Here are a few ideas I’m playing with:

• Testing days and times I have the most energy for my most important projects

• Counting inspiring tasks as part of my “work day”/creative process like walking, working out, taking artist dates, morning pages, and friend time

• Taking a few minutes to declutter a few times a week (ahem…my desk)

• Blocking off days I want to be present and NOT think about work-ish stuff

• Pondering where I want to grow spiritually

• Carving out time for reflection and down time

 The spirit behind this list echoes my purpose to release overflow like distractions, negative energy, and guilt. I want to stay connected with God, my source of life and balance.

 In times of extreme heat, our lives can be beautiful pools, potential oases of nourishment, love, and hospitality.

 Plan for the overflow. Expect storms and keep your automatic water leveler hooked up properly or else.

 I promise you don't want to be sweating through your PJs as you wrench open a drain instead of enjoying your morning coffee.

Consider

• What’s filling your pool (in a positive way)?

• What causes it to overflow?

• What is one thing you feel God may be inviting you to drain from your pool?