900+ miles of driving. Two days of reconnecting with my brothers and their families. A time of relaxation with no agenda. A softball game. Two baseball games. A County Fair. Celebration of Life on Saturday. 90+ degree weather with 500% humidity (slight exaggeration). Time with my daughter, Janna, her friend, Mike, and my grandson. DQ Blizzard. Does it get any better than that? As you can tell it was a full but much needed week of basically doing nothing. The only “something” I did was cut my grass yesterday afternoon in 89 degree weather. Not the smartest thing I have ever done but after a week away and rain in the forecast (they were correct) and more predicted this week, I prefer to mow my lawn than a forest. 

Today it is back to work. I have to admit, though, not only was it nice not having an agenda, but just getting away was what the doctor ordered. I am very conscientious about my work. I was taught a work ethic by my parents and also by mentors that work is a priority. Sadly, I have often taken that to the extreme and I would not classify myself as a workaholic (which my wife has at various times), I have put too much stock in my work and not taken the requisite time off. Every Friday is my day off and only in very rare cases (a funeral, for example) have I not taken that day for just me and Jo. For so many years I have served churches where I was the only one on staff so that changed what an occasional Friday looked like. I have tried to become very protective of Fridays. But, in my case, it is the other 6 days where I find myself a bit too wrapped up in. Up at 3:30, go the office to work on sermons, do office stuff, meet with staff, go to the Y at lunch time (I haven’t ridden my bike outside since my knee replacement), going all afternoon and sometimes (like tonight) heading to someone’s house to visit or teach. Rinse. Repeat. 

I’m not bragging. I’m relating what many people fall into: “If I don’t do it, it won’t get done.” Or in my case: “I have this work ethic…” The danger, of course, for anyone with a working mindset is burnout. I have enough variable in my day-exercise, reading, eating meals with people, laughing a lot-to stave off that ugly monster. For a time. But as I found out this past week, I needed time away. Yes it was long and hot. And yes, it was lots of driving. But IT WAS DIFFERENT. And I needed different. I was talking with someone just the week before I left and he said, “I’d rather burnout than rust out.” There is some truth to that, but can I say, “How about neither?”  I’m not an archer, but I have heard that to keep the string working properly you can’t keep the tension on it all the time.

Hmmm sounds like good advice.