Warning: this post might get long…
Today, we packed up the car and headed to Houston to visit Steph’s parents and experience a little vacation. My wife’s parent’s moved into a brand new house this past spring and I had not had the chance to visit yet, so we decided to spend the week here. I have a stack of books with me, and they have wi-fi in their new house, so I appear to be set. We arrived in pretty good time, had a nice dinner, and I am now preparing to relax and disconnect.
Several years ago while leading a small group bible study with some couples in my previous church, I was shocked to discover that almost everyone in the room essentially hated their jobs. They either weren’t real interested in what they were doing, didn’t get along with their co-workers, or felt like their more personal interests were so much more enjoyable than going to work. Needless to say, this revelation came as quite a shock for me.
I love my job. I really do. I love the relationships. I love the challenge. There are so many things that I could list that really bring me great joy about my work… and I routinely express my thanks to God for the sense of passion and fulfillment that I receive from the work that I get the opportunity to do… But there is a dark side to the joy and passion that I have for my job… I really with disconnecting from my job.
Rob Bell really beat me up the other night with the idea of sabbath and the need to disconnect from work and be fully present to God and my family. On the way down here today, I listened to another portion of teaching from Rob where he proceeded to beat me up again for the same thing… During his message the other night, after asking the questions, “when do you turn off your cellphone, when are you unavailable,” he said, “I can keep going but it’s just going to get more painful.” I loved that line. It really hit me… because it really did hurt.
In the last year, I have done many intentional things to try to live a more healthy, whole life so that I can be a better husband, father, and pastor. I have recommitted myself to study and I have really enjoyed diving into a wide range of resources in order to broaden my understanding. In recent months, I have taken steps to readjust the practices which affect my physical health. But… this last week has reminded me that there are still plenty of areas of my life where I am still very broken… in need of healing and restoration… And so I guess my reason for sharing this tonight is simply to place a bookmark… to publicly confess that I’m not whole. I am broken… like everyone else… and I am still in need… In the meantime, I am going to try to disconnect and relax. We’ll see how well it goes.
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as a fellow minister to youth, enjoy the break-away.
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