“Meanwhile, he would slip away to deserted places and pray” (Luke 5:16).
I am busy. Obligations are pulling and stretching me, causing very little time for myself. Anyone juggling work, family and parental obligations knows what it means to be booked and busy. And yet we overextend, play musical chairs to fit everything in our day, multitask, and unfortunately, we put ourselves last. We bargain with ourselves when I finish this project, when I put them to sleep, or next week. The projects never finish; you’re so exhausted after the kids are put to sleep that you quickly fall into slumber, and that time curved out is that of dreams, and next week seems never to come.
How are you spiritually feeding yourself? What rest are you giving your body? And how can you unplug? These questions may seem simple, but they are instrumental. Self-care is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. You are called to take time and rest. Even in the scripture, Jesus retreated from the crowds and disciples to go off and rest. So how can you rest? How can you carve out time to be?
This message is excerpted from “Booked and busy” by Ralen Robinson from the September 27, 2024, blog of the Women of the ELCA. Today we commemorate Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, martyr, c. 258.
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