by the Rev. Ralen M. Robinson
Read Luke 5:16: “Meanwhile, he would slip away to deserted places and pray.”
I am busy. Who else can attest to growing lists and full calendars? I run from one meeting to the next with very little rest.
Obligations are pulling and stretching me, causing very little time for myself. As I write this, I am on a plane traveling back east to be with my friends and family to celebrate my childhood best friend’s wedding. And yet my inbox continues to ding, my unfinished tasks still need to be completed, and my attention is on both the excitement of my friend’s wedding and hoping Sunday goes smoothly without me.
A pastor’s life, heck, the life of anyone juggling their 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 attend to everything else but ourselves, placing tasks and others before us. 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.
So, I ask you what I constantly ask myself when I’m booked and busy in seasons of life- 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?
Is it turning one’s phone off for an hour a day, going for a stroll to watch the autumnal colors swirl around you, or escaping into a good book? However self-care looks for you, it is essential to your being that you do it. My seminary professor and colleague once said, “You can’t continue to pour into others without pouring into yourself.” When initially hearing this, I found this saying to be a construction of flowery words that seemed appealing to me; it was lovely but not practical. Little did I know it was farther from the truth. It must be lived into because those flowery words that I initially thought were just nice are imperative. When you’re empty, you have nothing to give, which is unacceptable and unfeasible for your being or soul. You are no good to others when you are no good to yourself. So you must take moments to recharge and refuel to tackle life’s growing task. Unplugging helps preserve your energy.
So, I sat on this plane for 5 hours, and I remember that with a looming celebration, a mountain of work, and all the rest of my duties, I needed to rest and have a break. When I’m home, I plan to spend the mornings with a great cup of coffee and sit as the world rushes around me. I will sip and see the people filtering into the coffee shops. I will sit at home and watch the birds rest in the trees. And I will sit and listen to what my body needs, whether that’s a walk later, food to fuel, or a moment to turn off my brain. That’s how I will anchor myself in peace, tranquility, and self-care.
Remember, you have the power to make time for yourself.
Ralen M. Robinson is a pastor at Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita, Kan. When she is not pastoring, she is pursuing her Doctorate of Ministry in Homiletics, serving as a board member of Child Protective Services of Sedgwick County, and participating in leadership roles in the wider church. Ralen believes her faith and a good pair of shoes can take you a long way.
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