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[et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]Last week I disconnected from the world.  I left my ministry and family to take some time away to visit some family overseas.  I was able to explore cities, beaches, ruins, and even hike a volcano!

It had been a hard year. I was emotionally drained from ministry, family, and personal issues.  For the past year it was as if I lived in a state of nervousness.

About six weeks prior to leaving I hit a wall.  I was numb. My brain was fogged and all I could bring myself to do was binge watch Netflix.  Even my time with God was shallow, cluttered, and distracted. For different reasons I had been living with my stomach in knots, and it finally caught up with me.

Why do I share this with you? I have no 7 step ideas on how to help you prevent this from happening. I didn’t come up with 10 ways to make sure you take a Sabbath. Truth is, I was finding times of rest, but it wasn’t enough.  It wasn’t enough because life is life. And because life is life, sometimes we just have to disconnect- to escape.  I have no steps, but I can tell you what I learned:

1.) Life Went on Without Me.  Yes, everything from my family to ministry- they were all fine.  All my kids were fed, dressed, and no one blew up.

2.) I Needed Fun. Fun is a good thing and it is from the Lord.  It’s not that I never have fun, but sometimes it’s hard to breakaway to have fun.  Letting lose and allowing fun replenishes your spirit and makes you more relaxed.  It released a lot of the cortisol (stress hormone) that was building up in my brain.

3.) Accomplishing Something is Refreshing.  The first day away my cousin and I toured the excavated ancient city of Pompeii.  At one time Pompeii had been buried under ash, pumice and lava rock for over a thousand years.  After our tour, we hiked the volcano that caused it’s destruction- Mt. Vesuvius.  This may not seem like a big deal, but hiking up that mountain was HARD.  It was steep, and I am out of shape!  But I did it. I conquered a volcano that took out an entire Roman city.   In ministry we don’t often feel as if we accomplish much.  But this day- I accomplished something hard, and it felt great!  It brought a since of pride (the good kind) that refreshed my soul.

4.) Refreshing is Different than Rest: God commands us to take a Sabbath.  This helps us not turn into workaholics and keeps our focus on why we do what we do.  To relax means to be less tense or to let loose. Refreshing is something different.  It means to REVIVE.  Refreshing gives you energy and restores you to life.   I didn’t understand that even with all my ‘rest’ why I wasn’t feeling as I should.  It was because I needed refreshing, and this could only happen for me if I disconnected.

5.) Everyone (including me) was Better For It. Allowing myself to disconnect from my world to explore a new world refreshed me and made me a better person. Because of this I am enjoying the people around me more. In turn, they are enjoying me more.

6.) I’m Not 100%.  Escaping wasn’t a cure all.  Yes, I am very much refreshed, but I still need to push through in some areas.  It will take a little more time, and that’s ok.

I understand not all of you can just hop on a plane to explore cities and volcanos.  And for some of you, that’s not even your thing.  Find your thing.  What gets you to disconnect?

Fishing?

Scuba diving?

A marathon?

Whatever it is, just do it.  I’m talking more than just a one day Sabbath. Get away for a couple days.    The world will not stop because you leave to rejuvenate yourself. You will have fun and everyone will benefit from it.

Pray With Me, Sisters:

“Lord, my life is yours- but I cannot pour out if I am burnt out.  Help me to make disconnecting and rejuvenating myself a priority.  Please make a way where it seems like I can’t. In Jesus name, AMEN.”

How do you disconnect?  Tell me!

If you need tips on how to give yourself a vacation, click the links below.

Pastor, You Need A Vacation

Pastor, You Need A Vacation Part 2[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column]
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