Over... worked, booked, run.

I forgot to eat the other day. I had meetings from 7AM through 9PM. Around dinner time I caught 45 minutes of free time and meant to grab a bite, but, like I said, I forgot.

And so, when I arrived at home at 9:30 that evening, I was cranky. 

My wife wanted to talk about her day. I shrugged her off. 

My older daughter used every delay tactic she knows so she could see me before going to bed, so she was still up and wanted a story. Standing at her door, I quickly scrambled through a lame-duck narrative.  

Once upon a time there was a girl named Molly. She was tired. So was her dad. So she went to bed. And they all lived happily ever after. Good night.  

When I crashed on the couch, my wife sat next to me. She wanted a conversation with an adult for the first time all day. I obliged by replying “yea” and “nah” to her questions – too tired to even put an “s” at the end of a one syllable word. 

“Thanks for the riveting conversation, Scott.”
“Huh? What?”
“Exactly. Good night.”

When my wife went to bed frustrated, I took my laptop out so I could write a bit. After all, I was on a role that day; I wanted to keep things going. And then I read this: 

The apostles gathered around Jesus to tell him all that they had done and taught.
Jesus said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. Mark 6:30-31

That’s when it hit me. I’ve been going and going. I need to eat, but beyond that, I need a bit of rest. 

I was hungry and cranky and tired. I thought I was being productive, but in the long-term I was hurting myself and my relationships with others. 

When Jesus sees his disciples after a long day of healing and proclaiming, he does not say, “Great job! Now go back out there and do it again.” Rather, he says, “It’s time to come to rest.” When he spots his disciples who’re too busy to stop and eat, he says, “It’s time to come away and relax.” 

Jesus wants us to be the most productive disciples we can be. His call to rest, to relax, to get away, to eat! is not an assault on productivity. Rather, it invites us to do what is necessary to truly produce. See, the type of productivity God is looking for in our lives is not the kind that can be measured based on basic stats and numbers. Its bigger than that.

It isn’t about how many words we type in a day, but how we effectively proclaim the Word. 

It isn’t about how many people we touch base with, but how many eyes we really look into – how many people we really see.

It isn't about so much about "putting a dent" in a few things, but truly making a difference when we are able. 

It isn't about being all things to all people, but being the person you're supposed to be to the people who matter most. Like your wife who wants a companion. Like your daughter who wants a minute with her dad. 

If we are to be effective and productive - 

If we are going to be able to truly see and embrace others - 
If we want to make a difference -
If we want to be present for those we love -

Then it begins and ends with with resting, recharging, and rejuvenating for the sake our God, ourselves and others.

Make sure you eat today. "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while."

Wayward,
PSDH