I’ve just had an amazing holiday adventure with my wife in Tasmania. With lots of excitement in the world of market place ministry I was in one way reluctant to “take my foot off the pedal” and in another way greatly looking forward to “mountain time” with God and my wife.
Business people can easily justify not taking taking time out for fear of missing business opportunity and/or the prospect of returning back to a multitude of issues and problems and an overflowing in-tray and email in-box!
If it has been a long time since having “time out” we forget the importance of walking away from the desk, tools or whatever it is that we do to commercially serve our community. The sparkle in our eye fades and the effervescence of our purpose becomes flat. We resemble a goldfish that looks bored as it swims backwards and forwards, day in, day out, in the same small glass tank. Our leadership becomes dull, dampening the productivity of our team
A holiday away from work and home with new scenery rests and refreshes the senses of our soul. Within a couple of days we regain glimpses of His world that is so much bigger than our own much smaller “sphere of influence”. We are wonderfully reminded that there is much joy, excitement and rejuvenation outside of our respective businesses that we can take back into our businesses.
As we return to our workplaces after a good break it may take a few days to “get back into the saddle” but we do so with an “edge” that significantly sharpens our strategic, managerial and technical focus in all aspects.
As much as I love fulfilling God’s calling for me in the market place, my greatest joy comes from time out in His presence and holding hands and loving my wife as we visit interesting cultures, street markets, scenic vistas and remote bays and beaches.
Let me encourage you to build regular (quarterly) “pit stops” into your busy schedule where you can enjoy His love deeper and where you can rekindle and “turn up” your flame of love for your wife or husband and children.
“…Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11: 28,29
Blessings,
James Benjamin