I think that as believers, we would think that every message reaches with the same effectiveness and efficacy, but that is not true. This week, we didn’t have a small group gathering because it was just a busy holiday weekend. But unlike last week, this one hit me close.

The reason that I didn’t post toward the end of last week is that I am pushing to get this job done. I have four days of vacation coming at the beginning of next week for a family camping trip. I need to get as much done this week or time is going to start to run out.

This week’s message is about taking the time to rest. I am sure that we can all visualize the damage of overexertion. But we don’t always see the hidden or incremental damage when we don’t take rest. I am no stranger to this as you can see my habits tend toward getting this job done at all costs.

I learned early on that I was not the smartest or the fastest or the strongest but I could endeavor to be the toughest or the one that never gives up. I remember that when I was in high school, I joined the wrestling team just to see if I could take it. I didn’t win a single match, but I didn’t give up and I vowed that I would keep going.

I outlasted many better athletes and my mental condition changed to the point where I felt like I could outwill anyone. That started me down the belief in a never give up attitude. That has translated in a burn out type work habits in certain contexts. Under a more introspective analysis, I guess that I thought if I channeled that energy into the right projects or endeavors that this would be productive. However this week’s message is a more counter viewpoint and more importantly, why.

I have done my own reading over the years. But everyone needs a refresher on fundamentals. For instance, one of Steven Covey’s Seven Habits is to ‘sharpen the saw’. From what I always understood, was that you needed to stop and go back to make sure your fundamentals were honed. But did you catch it… stop first. You cannot sharpen the tool blade without stopping.

I have written about being in the moment, it is very difficult to me. Sometimes you need to hear a message from different sources, but I think that I am finally hearing it. From the message, we need to let our fields be fallow so not to ultimately leave them unfertile. Doing so will generate greater bounty. Those fields for me are my marriage and relationships and potentially my health both physically and mentally.

The questions of the week are

  • What does hurry and hustle look like in your life?
  • What are some of the things you can do to find rest this week?

I suppose what hit me the hardest is that we all have the same amount of time in our lives. We are not going to control something that we really have no control over no matter how badly we want to. What is really the crux is using the time effectively.