BEING A LAZY BUM
I am sitting at my computer just a couple of days before I
start my vacation. I have to write my
newsletter article in the middle of September so as to get it to Robin so she
can put it in the October newsletter. By
the time I get back from vacation it will be too late. Of course, I could write it while on vacation
… but … once I am on vacation, I am ON VACATION! J
So, here I sit, trying to think of something inspiring,
uplifting, educational, and thought provoking, but I am having little
luck. I know, how is that different from
any other month? I have to admit, New York City,
Boston, Quebec,
Montreal keep popping into my
mind. Since those are some of the places
I will be visiting on my vacation, I am pretty sure it isn’t the spirit that is
bringing those up.
I can tell you that I had a GREAT TIME (power of positive
thinking). Everyone should be able to get away for a week or two during the
year. It is refreshing, relaxing, and
renewing. My spiritual director has
reminded me that my M.O. during vacations is to go, go, go … and therefore I
have to intentionally make time for rest and reflection. I promised him I would do so. I wonder how I did?
All of us, whether on vacation or not, need to periodically
slow down and smell the roses of life.
We get so focused on work, taking the kids to a myriad of activities,
attending various church get-togethers (you are coming at least on Saturday to
the ALL CHURCH RETREAT, right?), more work, etc., etc., etc. … that we forget
to enjoy the journey. Often that means
we need to SSSLLLOOOWWW DDDOOOWWWNNN.
It can also mean occasionally saying “no”… even to church.
And then using the time to rediscover why we are here, what God has in store
for us - trusting the serendipitous journey in God’s love.
If all we are doing is doing and never taking time to just
be, then we miss out on understanding God’s plan for us. On my vacation I do plan to take time to just
be, as hard as that is for me. I plan to
occasionally be a lazy bum (no smart remarks!) and just bask in the joy of it
all.
God has wonderfully made each of us. God
has made us to love and be loved. God
has made us that we might experience joy.
Please don’t get going so fast that you miss it.
May you each feel God’s loving arms surrounding you with his
love and care, and may you take the time to indeed.
And, as always, I’ll
see you on Sunday!
Pastor
Tom
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