Vacation

I've just returned from what was supposed to have been a three-week vacation. I've never taken a vacation that long before in ministry, and I admit that I had a little bit of apprehension as I approached it. I wasn't worried that the church couldn't survive without me, or that my new colleague wasn't up to the challenge of handling everything in my absence...I was more unsure about how I would feel letting go of everything for that long. In actuality, the vacation was pared down a bit (on the front end) due to some deaths and subsequent funerals here at church, but all in all, it was still a sizable chunk of time away. And it was a good reminder to me of the importance of time off, and time away from the everyday demands of ministry. Rest and renewal truly are integral parts of a healthy convergent lifestyle.

Now that I'm back, and trying to get my feet under me again, I've done some reflecting on vacations. A few things I've come to conclusions on:

-Vacations, especially with 4 young children, are work, and physically exhausting.

-Traveling 1000 miles each way in a minivan with 4 young children is exhausting, no matter how many toys, technological gadgets or snacks you have on hand.

-In spite of the above two items, I love spending time with my kids, and feel so blessed to be their father.

-It takes a good week or so before I mentally can separate myself from the things and people "on my plate" that are left behind.

-Every family vacation should immediately be followed up with another husband-and-wife-only vacation.

Next summer is my sabbatical summer, which if all goes according to plan, will be three months in length, and have a specific emphasis on "Convergence: The Intersection of Life, Faith & Ministry". As I spend the next few weeks finishing up grant proposals for the sabbatical, the freshness of this past vacation time is providing good insights on what will truly refresh, renew, and revision.