After running wind sprints for Pee-wee football our coaches always yelled for us to catch our breath by facing the mountains. We’d face toward Wa’ahila ridge from Crane park in Kapahulu and suck in the fresh mountain air to replenish weary nine-year-old lungs. As the oxygen did its job, our bodies would recover just in time for another round of 100-yard sprints!
I’m writing this post from gate 22 as I ready to board my flight to LA where I’ll attend the Catalyst West Coast conference. I’m looking forward to this trip because it’s a “face the mountain” moment for me. It’ll be a time when I can catch my breath. It’ll be a busy few days for sure. I have a series of meetings between the meetings on top of all the normal week-to-week stuff. Nevertheless, it’ll be a time to pull back the lens a little and gain some fresh perspectives. It’ll be a time to learn from and listen to what’s happening in other ministry circles. It’ll be a time to break routine and freshen up a little.
Catching breaths is key to longevity. Catching breaths is different from taking vacations though. Taking vacations means to completely vacate; no work stuff allowed. Catching breaths, however, are mini pauses we take to refresh ourselves in the midst of life’s busyness. What’s amazing is our bodies are wired to take these mini pauses – it’s called sleep!
I think fatigue, burn out, depression, and frustration happen because we don’t face the mountain enough. The demands of a 24/7, super connected, ultra busy culture do not allow for pauses. Some may even feel guilty for taking a pause to catch their breath; they feel there’s too much at stake. Let me say this: it’s too costly NOT to face the mountain. You’re too important to God and others to crash and burn because there was stuff to be done.
So, what do you do to face the mountain? Is it a walking around the block, finding a moment of solitude, having coffee with a friend, taking in a sunset, taking a nap, attending a small group of people to process faith and life?
My LA trip is needed because I can sense the need to catch my breath. Plus, I know there’s another round of 100-yard sprints waiting for me when I get back.
1 Comment
April 21, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Hey Mike, enjoy and post some nuggets for the rest of us to salivate over. I totally agree with catching your breath. I actually watched a movie yesterday… imagine that a theater movie.