Today, during one of my busiest weeks in a long time, I took the day off. I felt the load of everything that needed to be done on my shoulders. I felt the weight of not having seen my family much at all this week. I missed my kids. I missed my wife. I needed to reconnect...and I did.
Taking a Sabbath is perhaps one of the most challenging things to do because you feel like things won't get done if you're absent...and truthfully...they might not. But will they ever? I don't think so, especially in ministry. Taking a Sabbath for me is not only a break but it is more an act of faith. I feel as though it's telling/showing God that I trust all this stuff to Him. It's breaking the rhythm of the ongoing pressure of the workdays and ministry to step back and just rest and enjoy the simple pleasures God has given you in life.
Today I enjoyed a few hours with my daughter. We pretty much just goofed around. She danced with her oversized Elmo stuffed animal and I did my best to appear as though I had some sort of rhythm (which I have none of). I rolled around on the floor cooing with my 10 month old. I watched a little of the Packers/Cowboys game with my oldest son and then we spent time doing the dishes together for my wife...yea...he really wanted to help!!! It was a great day and I didn't feel guilty at all for taking it.
I think that's one of the things that has tripped me up in the past. I was so focused on preformance I felt that if I wasn't seen at the office or appear like I put in my time (even though that ranges from 40-50+ hours/week anyway) it was the whole guilt thing. I think...I hope anyway...that I've gotten past that to realize life is much more than about ministry or work, but it's also about resting in the goodness of what God has given...and for me, that's my family.
It's important to break the rhythm of continual workaholism which is rampant in our culture. I've seen and heard a lot about it in ministry, but I'm not sure it's that healthy. My sanity...my health...and the health of my relationship in marriage and with my kids is too important to me. It's something I think overall we need to protect and nurture more carefully.
