Time for a tune-up

We take better care of our cars than we do of ourselves. Every 3,000 miles we change the oil, every 5,000 miles we rotate tires, balancing them every other rotation.  But we have no such maintenance routine for our bodies and souls.

We face obstacles—most of which we put up ourselves. “I don’t have enough time for self-care.” “I have others whose needs must come before mine.” We can think of dozens of excuses.

First we have to believe it’s OK to spend time on renewal. For starters we might remember that God spent six days creating and one resting.  Jesus often pulled away from the crowds, too, so he could pray and be renewed.

Are you in tune with what you need for renewal and self-care? We need different things at different times. Sometimes we need quiet, and other times we need to get active. It is important to know your inner and outer rhythms and develop a tool kit of renewal and self-care resources. Once you are tuned in to your body and your spirit, you’ll be aware of what’s needed for you to be all God created you to be.

This message is adapted from “Time for a Tune-up” written by Sonia Solomonson in the June 2011 issue of Lutheran Woman Today (now Gather) magazine. Today we remember Jiří Třanovský, hymnwriter, who died in 1637.