Slow Down

For our dedicated readers, you may have noticed there was no update last Sunday. This was because I was on a vacation and forced myself to leave my laptop behind. The word “vacation” is basically like a foreign language to me, and I’m pretty sure I’m not alone. As a self-proclaimed (and likely co-worker backed) workaholic, I rarely take time to refresh and recharge myself. By my calculations, this was the first non-work-related trip I’ve taken in three years. Yes, you read that correctly. Granted, no one did much traveling in 2020 (thanks, COVID-19), but many still may have taken time off just to socially distance themselves from their computer screen in this new work-from-home reality.

For me, taking a break often inspires feelings of guilt. If I’m not doing “work,” then I’m just goofing off and wasting my time. If what I’m involved in isn’t putting money in my bank account to pay my bills and contribute to society, then it’s worthless. Unfortunately, the society we live in tends to reinforce this mentality. Many people have “side-gigs” that evolved from their hobbies. Can’t we just do things for fun anymore?

I live in California, just south of Los Angeles. I’m used to the hustle and bustle of city life. You can imagine how different it felt when I touched down in the smallest airport I’ve ever been to in my life in the little town of Lawton, Oklahoma. My brother is in the Army and currently stationed there. My mom and I thought it’d be nice to visit him and his wife in early December, because God help the poor soul who tries to navigate LAX during the holidays.

It was here in Buffalo Central, USA, God decided it was time to teach me about the importance of rest.

I got to gaze into the night sky, free from pollution, and literally see the rings of Saturn through a telescope. An elk only nearly missed crashing into our car and I saw my life flash between my eyes (only a semi-exaggeration). My sister-in-law and I had a heart-to-heart that in turn made me see how beautiful she is not just on the outside, but the inside as well. I had the best Mexican food I’ve ever had (Cali needs to up its game). We spent an hour politely listening to a museum tour guide who you could tell was lonely and much too excited to tell us everything he knew about general stores (shout out to Tim!). I hiked through a forest, saw the Holy City where the largest passion play in the US is held every year, and took a selfie with a catfish.

Moby the catfish says hi!

And guess what? Work was waiting just where I left it at home when I returned. Yes, I had an avalanche of emails to catch up on. Plenty of article assignments came in with deadlines that are, mercifully, manageable. But something did change. I intentionally slowed down. During my morning prayer, I asked God to give me the same peace I had when I laid down on my brother’s couch and petted my fur-nephew. The same peace I felt when I walked to a mailbox in the freezing cold to mail my grandma a postcard (yes, a postcard!). The same peace I felt watching a nearly eight hour documentary on The Beatles over the course of three days with a small group of people that I now realize mean everything to me.

Psalm 127:2 says, “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.” It doesn’t have to be literal sleep. It’s the concept of rest. The work we do on this Earth matters, yes – but we as individuals are not our careers. We are beloved children of God. He doesn’t want us to be so busy living that we forget to make a life (that’s not my line…I stole it from a chalkboard at Lawton’s Buffalo Grove Coffee Company). That includes experiencing everything he’s created to the fullest.

You’re no doubt familiar with Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters…” and so on. Don’t just skim those words because you’ve heard it a thousand times – really read it. HE MAKES ME lie down in green pastures. He knows when you’ve had enough. He knows when you feel like you can’t go on. He will MAKE it so you find the respite you’re so desperately looking for.

A shot from the Holy City