Leap Day!

By thissmallgroup, February 27, 2020

It takes the earth about 365.25 days every year to orbit around the sun. Since it would be really weird to have a quarter of a day every year, it’s combined to form this lovely day called Leap Day.

It’s kind of strange to think that this year, we have a whole extra day to do something, or multiple somethings. Most times when Leap Day happens, I just treat it as another day, another day to be in school or work. But this year, Leap Day is on a Saturday. The last time Leap Day was on a weekend was 2004. It was a Sunday and I probably treated it as another church day and another Sunday for getting ready for school.

With it being a Saturday this time, I feel like a whole realm of possibilities are available. I won’t have to worry about going to work. I won’t be planning on attending or volunteering at church. It’s a day when I can do whatever. But, instead of just waiting until Leap Day hits and figuring out then what I want to do, what if I was more intentional about it? What if I took a minute to think of how I could make the most of my day? In fact, what if we all sought to be more intentional on this extra day of the year?

One thing that could be done is being productive. While I don’t consider myself a procrastinator, there are things that I always plan on doing, but when the time comes, I put them to the side for more immediate things. Before Leap Day, I could make a list of all the things that I’ve been meaning to do over the past few months and then actually get them done on Leap Day. Maybe there’s something you’ve been meaning to do around your home that you just haven’t gotten around to?

Another thing is focusing on relationships. With a long commute to a full time job five days a week, I tend to use Saturday as a day to just relax, binge watch a show, write for the blog, go exercise. However, I could use my extra day to build on the friendships I’ve built. I could grab a cup of coffee or catch a movie with a friend, newer friends or older friends. Maybe even multiple friends, with a whole day free. Is there a friend you haven’t seen in a while that you’ve been meaning to catch up with?

Another way to be intentional focuses on a relationship, but one on a more spiritual level. During the week, I make sure on my drive into work to spend the first half of my drive listening to Christian music; I want to make sure I’m in the right mindset for the day ahead. I make sure to do my devotions and journal entries. I attend church on Sundays, either in-person or virtually, and volunteer every other Sunday unless I’m out of town. But even with all that, it’s easy to just get into a rhythm and get complacent. But this Leap Day, maybe taking a good amount of time to focus on strengthening my relationship with God is just the thing. If you’ve gotten complacent in your relationship with God, maybe taking some time to read His Word or listen to Christian music throughout the day or spend some solid time in prayer is just the thing.

However you and I choose to spend our Leap Day, if there’s already existing plans or not, I think all of us can take a moment to check ourselves and make sure we are being intentional, seeking to use this extra day as a day of growth.

-Allie