Vacation Days
But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and large crowds were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. Luke 5:15-16
INSIGHT
If my math is correct, I could grab a turkey leg at Thanksgiving, kick up my feet, and not have to come back into the office until after the ball drops welcoming 2024. Not to brag, but I have that much vacation time saved up. Considering my childhood hero was Cal Ripken, the consecutive game record holder in baseball, it's no wonder that I struggle to take a day off from work.
In a weird and twisted way, I regard it as a badge of honor. Like the Energizer Bunny, I keep going and going. In those moments of weakness, when I consider taking a day off, I think about the uncompleted duties, the projects demanding my attention, the flood of emails in my inbox, and everything else. If I don't handle them, who will? My commitment is for my co-workers' benefit and safety because if I leave the building, it will crumble to the ground, or at least that's what I tell myself.
I'm exaggerating a bit, but an ego struggle exists within my heart. I don't think I'm alone with overvaluing my importance while simultaneously overlooking the benefit of slowing down, unplugging, and be willing to rest.
Are our schedules busy and demanding? Yes. Do we have many people and situations vying for our attention? Without a doubt. Could we use a few more hours in the day to get things accomplished? Sure thing.
But, when we wrongly believe that the weight of the world resides on our shoulders, we belittle the One who holds it in the palm of His hands.
Let's call it for what it is - arrogance.
There might be demands on your plate, yet when you stack them up to what Jesus faced, it looks like table scraps. He led a group of twelve ragtag disciples. The religious order demanded answers, while the sick and hurting hoped for healing. If that wasn't enough, a raving crowd awaited Him in every town His sandals touched. People flocked to see Him in person.
While His influence grew, and the pressure rose, He did something that appeared illogical and unproductive: He slipped away to pray. He took a timeout. He left the broad audience to be in the presence of an audience of One. Jesus headed off to the wilderness to listen, recharge, and reconnect with no distractions. He stopped what He was doing to start attending to the most crucial task - spending time with His Father.
This wasn't a one-time thing - not a cat nap nor a "mental health" day. It was a pattern He displayed throughout His life. Jesus consistently took time out of His schedule to be alone with God. After hours of healing others, when He faced an important decision, He withdrew to a quiet place, even at the height of His success.
We reflect God's heart more not when we're trying to be the Savior of the world, but when we savor spending time seeking and pursuing God. If standing in awe of God was important to Jesus, it's critical for us. We display humility when we retreat and reflect. Without uttering a word, we proclaim that there's only one God, and we're not Him.
Spend time with Him today. Let Him renew and refresh You. Quiet the noise around you so you can hear His still small voice. Instead of running, remain. No agenda. No rushing. The demands of the world will be there when you get back. The only thing different will be your perspective and posture.
REFLECTION
What makes you resist slowing down and spending time with God?
How can you carve out time to slip away from the daily demands to connect with Christ?
PRAYER
God, everything else can wait - the demands, the worry, the issues, all of it. The only thing that matters is that I come to the place where healing, wholeness, and hope reside, and that is in Your presence. May I spend uninterrupted time in Your company, connecting with the One who knows me best. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.
