Lazy Saturdays

Ya know…I dig lazy Saturdays.

Last week we had one and today it’s another one.

I’ve got a few chores to do (garbage, vacuuming, general cleaning) but overall it’s a pretty empty day…and ya know what I need those every once in awhile.

I’ve been able to finish my sister’s web page (bettyandbernie.com) and redesign mine (willbenson.com)…put together the media for service tomorrow and discovered the coolness that is Picasa. (I mean seriously…this thing found pics from 1997…1997!!!! I mean that’s 3 years before I met my wife. I can’t even imagine that).

I think as Americans we’re losing touch with the idea of weekends. Remember when we were kids (those of us older than 30)…and there were only 20 or 30 cable channels…and your parents spent weekends with you. When we had weekends to spend. Now it seems like we’re spending more and more time filling our schedules to the point of overload. Responsibilities are good…but left unchecked…sometimes we book ourselves so heavy…we forget to truly rest.

I speak from experience with this. When it comes to misprioritization I'm one of the most guilty people I know. I’ve taken off the month of October from worship because the fact is…I’ve been ignoring my responsibilities at home. My wife should (and I thought did) come first…but during the last month or so…with my sister’s going through labor for 3 weeks, worship, leadership, the radio show, work needs, financial class we’re taking, ‘me’ time, setting the media and just general time-wasting…somewhere I lost sight of what’s most important. Being a husband to my wife, and a provider for my family spiritually as well as financially.

We don’t rest because we’re lazy. We rest because it makes the time we spend DOING something actually be of better quality. Without rest…we start ‘phoning’ things in. It starts innocently enough with good intentions. However soon you find yourself faking most of your day while inside you’re feeling like everyone has a right to you and your time…and there’s nothing you can do about it. You become emotionally exhausted and unable to connect. That’s where I found myself two weeks ago.

So I took off and in the past week alone I’ve felt more in-sync with what I need to do. I have more energy for tasks I need to do and I’m happy to do them. I’m spending time with my beautiful wife…and doing what needs to be done and I’m happy about it.

So I want to encourage you today. Take some time. If you have a lot of responsibilities…see if there’s something that can do without you for awhile…(without sacrificing your role as a spouse or parent obviously). Redeem the time somehow…if you’re a religious person then chase your beliefs…spend some time with God. If you’re not…seek to do something real with yourself that will enable you to be able to spend more quality time with your family/friends…and to take your responsibilities back on with the right heart and the right priority.

Thanks for Reading;

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