Let’s take a good look at the way we’re living and reorder our lives under God.” Lamentations 3:40 MSG
Sometimes pausing is a good thing. We always try to keep moving so we have a sense of progress, but pausing can be a form of progress when applied correctly.
We’ve been taught to never quit. Never stop. Never standstill. Never sit just because that’s how the world works. But Jesus slept. He meditated in isolation. He took time to pray. He ran away from crowds sometimes.
I’m a big fan of self-examination and sometimes, I allocate a day to a week for such assessments, depending on the goal. These periods are not just opportunities to restructure but also to rest.
I know you’re passionate about what you do and desire to spend every waking moment doing it. But the burnout that people like us feel many times is due to not hitting the stop button. Those we serve may not understand when we take these periods for ourselves, but if we must fulfil our purpose, we must stay alive and sane to do it.
This isn’t a mental health post but a reminder that we are also important. My wife never ceases to remind me of this fact and I can get stubborn about it sometimes, putting the needs of others above mine every time. But when the overwhelm gets to the peak, no one tells me to stop and rethink.
Instead of waiting till life demands self-examination, it should be a scheduled activity. An examined life helps you stay on the right track instead of moving at top speed in the wrong direction.
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