IMPORTANT PRIORITIES
So
I am back, for those of you who have been missing the blog. I have just returned from a trip into 8
states and 2 Canadian provinces, along the coast of one ocean, to see over two
dozen relatives from sisters clear to third cousins. There were lots of purposes for the travel,
but two of the main ones were to celebrate the upcoming 10th
Anniversary of marriage with my wife, and time to renew and refresh
after over half a decade of assisting aging parents through the hardships that
come with age and the end of life here.
Exhausted, drained and a bit ragged, it was time for a break.
In
the Genesis account of creation, after six days of creating, God set aside the
seventh day to rest, or in Hebrew, to sabbath…the word meaning, “to rest.” On that basis, the commandments established
that one day in seven was to be spent in rest and in worship of God, a practice
continued to this day in both Jewish and Christian faith communities. Scheduling time for worship and renewal is important for everyone. Overtime
hours may help pay the bills, but times of rest bring the balance, perspective
and strength needed for a healthy lifestyle.
During
and after times of great stress, it is especially imperative that time be set
aside for such rest. In the tasks of
caregiving, and through the times of divorce, times for rest and renewal are
few and far between. If you have a
friend in one of those situations, one of the great services you could provide
for them would be to arrange some kind of time for them to simply get away for
a bit, even if it is only an hour or so.
Occasionally, I have had opportunity to experience a massage for half an
hour or so, and have found that it is very useful for me in bringing a bit of
restoration. Going off by myself into
nature, or to enjoy a good book can do the same thing. What works for you?
So
many people I know are extremely responsible when it comes to the issues of
taking care of their children, or in their professional career, or in the way they
care for their home and cars. But
sometimes, those same people do not make time for personal rest, or to spend in
the presence of their Creator in worship.
I believe these are serious mistakes, with serious consequences. Blood pressure, heart attacks and nervous
conditions are a few of the conditions that result from the former, and the
latter has eternal impact as we choose whether or not to grant our Creator
appropriate homage as a priority in life.
I
drove back into town, knowing that there are lots of tasks awaiting my return,
both in the aftermath of the loss of my father as well as the writing projects
currently in process. But I come back a
bit less ragged, a bit more focused, with great memories of wonderful times
with my wife and our family, and enjoying the incredible work of our Creator in
spectacular scenery and wildlife.
Whatever
is going on in your life, I challenge you to consider how you will find even a
few minutes this week for rest and renewal, and for time with the
Almighty. I have had a great time these
past few weeks, even though it meant I was out of touch with you, my
readers. But I have no regrets…I was
doing some very important things. Things
that the business world may or may not consider important, but important in the
eternal scheme of things. My wife and I
will never forget our time together during the rare opportunity we had.
Make some opportunities for yourself and those you love. ESPECIALLY if
things are stressful in your life just now, find a way to walk in that park, or
enjoy that novel, to catch those fish…whatever it is that refreshes you, and
then give God thanks as you sit before your Creator to seek the wisdom and
strength you need for the tasks you face.
