Go on Vacation

-------  Leading a Busy Lifestyle ------

Mark 6:30-32

Coaching is a consuming lifestyle, for the entire family. It chews up hours, energy, attention, emotion, and squeezes the margins of our lives. How can we build in time for family that refreshes our souls and replenishes our love for each other? 

The Lord Jesus, during the three years of his ministry on Earth was certainly busy. He had a short time to reveal God’s will, to accomplish His plan, and to equip those who would further His mission. His approach to rest and rejuvenation is described in Mark chapter 6, verses 30 through 32. There we read, “The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, ‘Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place to rest awhile.’ He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone.”

The busyness of Jesus’ life with the apostles was squeezing them harshly, and Jesus took action. He took them away from all the noise and commotion to rest. Twice, the text mentions that He sought a quiet place for them. He called them aside to rest and to be alone. 

Our coaching families should take note. Our families need to occasionally get away from the noise and commotion of our normal lives, to somewhere quiet, to rest, and to be alone. We need these moments; whether an hour over coffee with our spouse, a weekend away, a family vacation, or a sabbatical from work. We need the quiet, rest, and solitude to reflect, to reconnect with loved ones, to renew the bonds of devotion.

The challenge today is to be as responsive as Jesus was. Seek and schedule a time to say to your coaching family, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place to rest awhile.” 

Questions for Contemplation and Discussion:

1.  What about your coaching family life is consuming of your time, energy, and attention?

2.  How well do you schedule rest and recovery into your weekly agenda? Give yourself a letter grade – A, B, C, D, or F.

3.  When and where will you take your coaching family away for some quiet and rest?