10 Commandments for a Martian Church

by | Oct 12, 2015

The recently released movie The Martian starring Matt Damon tells the not-so-far-out tale of botanist Mark Watney left for dead on the planet Mars.  His fellow crew members have reluctantly left him behind to undertake the 4 year return voyage to Earth.  When he comes to after being knocked unconscious he is faced with a series of catastrophic realities he must tackle in order to survive.

While not explicitly a story of faith–Watney says he’ll have to “science the s&!# out of things”–it’s a great metaphor for the church in this day and age.
Watney is up against what David and Goliath author Malcolm Gladwell calls “desirable difficulties” which hone his imagination and capitalize on his desire to live. Much like dyslexics who innovate and orphans who excel precisely because of their difficulties, Watney rises to the occasion, and [spoiler alert] survives.  Indeed, thrives.

The church has a history of thriving when the chips are down.  We grow comfortable and weak when all is well.  We would do well to remember our rocky history when bemoaning our post-Christian world and spiritual but religious cohorts.  What can the church learn from The Martian?  Here are 10 Commandments for a Martian Church.

  1. Thou shalt step into the unknown.  The premise of The Martian is the courage of astronauts to go to Mars and to set up camp in an unforgiving environment.  Getting left behind in that environment pushed the uncertainty principle to the max.  Congregational survival similarly calls for a willingness to purposefully move into new territory.  We can’t sail new seas and stay in a safe harbor at the same time.
  2. Thou shalt flex thy faith muscles.  Watney doesn’t express an explicit faith in God.  But he demonstrates faith in himself and his training.  That faith is tested time and again.  Instead of weakening under scrutiny it grows stronger.  Here’s the thing, church:  certainty does not require faith.  Only uncertainty does.  In the early years of the life of the church, no one was sure if this thing would survive or if all the followers of Jesus would be martyred.  Following him took a vigorous, muscular faith.  Our faith muscles, by contrast, are fairly weak and flabby.  What if we were to embrace uncertainty as an opportunity to grow stronger?
  3. Thou shalt embrace pain.  The first obstacle Watney encounters might have done the rest of us in.  In order to not bleed to death, he has to perform painful surgery on himself.  It would have made sense for him to lay down and die right then and there.  Instead, he is willing to endure more pain to get on the right track.  Is your church embracing the pain of corrective self-surgery or is it bleeding out?
  4. That shalt not blame.  Watney demonstrates remarkably good humor and compassion in the face of intense isolation, seemingly insurmountable odds, and several failed attempts at survival.  He doesn’t blame his crew, Mars, NASA, God, or himself.  Instead, he understands and approves of the decision his crew made.  He goes to work with what he’s got.  How much energy do we waste on blame when we could be putting it toward creativity and faith flexing?  Things are the way they are.  Let go of blame and get on with it.
  5. That shall not covet thy neighbor’s success.  Watney doesn’t get lost in the fantasy that life would be better if only… Covetousness blinds us to what we do have.  The next time you drift into envy over megachurches, famous pastors, large budgets or fabulous buildings, you are wasting precious energy on fantasy.  Do like Watney:  improvise, improvise, improvise.  That too is the stuff of faith.
  6. Thou shalt fail.  Being willing to fail is the only way to truly succeed.  Watney had to put his limited resources on the line in order to figure out what would actually work.  He failed, and failed big.  More than once.  But those failures are what pushed him to ultimately succeed.  When the church is unwilling to fail, or to lose only a little, it is also unwilling to succeed big.  Big fails require big faith.  Big faith leads to big breakthroughs.
  7. Thou shalt not be blind.  Only one thing drives Watney’s efforts:  his desire to live.  This vision pushes him through pain, failure and the seemingly impossible.  It gives him the courage to try things that seem impossible.  If your church is not operating with a fresh and compelling vision, it’s hard to imagine you’ll do more than limp along until death.
  8. Thou shalt give thy all.  At one point, Watney must concede that he may in fact not make it.  He asks the Commander to break the news to his mother and father, if needed.  “Tell them I love them.  Tell them I loved my work.  Tell them I have died in the service of something greater than myself.  And that it was worth it.”  If your church has tried everything, failed, and must die, be proud that you gave your all.
  9. Thou shalt give back.  After Watney comes back to Earth, he gives back.  Another person might have hid away and nursed their wounds, or gone on a vendetta.  Not Watney.  He becomes a professor of aspiring astronauts, helping them navigate their fears and concerns.  Every congregation, no matter the size or budget, can give something back.  We don’t exist in a vacuum.  When we refuse to give back, we refuse to participate in the cycle of life.   Our stinginess will come back to haunt us.  One small congregation I know of is so concerned about its own survival that it prefers to hoard its sizable bank account rather than share it with those in need now.  Stinginess does not inspire faith, deliver hope, or bring the Kingdom.  Give back or pay it forward.
  10. Thou shalt not coast.  When Watney returns, he reveals the grit that got him through.   People ask him:  Did you think you were going to die?  “Yes,” he says.  “Space is unforgiving.  Things will go wrong.  You solve one problem.  Then the next.  Then the next.  And if you solve enough problems, you will live.”  Does your church ignore its problems, confusing denial with faith?  God does not do for us what we can do for ourselves.  Coasting is not faith.  Coasting is laziness.

The lessons of faith are all around us.  Even in sci-fi movies.  So don a pair of 3D glasses, and head to the theater.  Then, thou shalt consider the 10 Commandments of a Martian Church.

How About That Pope?

by | Sep 28, 2015

I recently attended a post-Yom Kippur meal designed to break the fast with the little Jewish community here in Casper WY. As we washed dishes and put away food, talk turned to politics and the diverse lineup of presidential hopefuls on both sides of the aisle. While Trump got the usual rolling of eyes, some painted the current Democratic and Republican members of Congress with the same broad brush strokes of contempt. “They’re all  too much. No one wants to compromise.” It looked like the conversation might degenerate quickly into partisan opinion slinging when one of our members piped up: “How about that Pope?” A statement more than a question it quickly served to unite us as heads nodded and smiles emerged.

How about that Pope?

It’s not just Jews of various political affinities he has managed to unite—if for a season. Also rich and poor, Catholics and non-Catholics, Republicans and Democrats, immigrants and citizens. Most surprising of all though, is the way he has inspired the religious, the spiritual but not religious and the “nones.”
A few nights after the Yom Kippur break fast, I was at a meeting with some friends who don’t identify with a faith tradition at all. “I’m not religious or anything,” Eddie, said, “but the Pope has restored my faith.” This from a man who doesn’t have or want any.   Eddie went on to say that Pope Francis restored his faith in religion, in leaders, in humanity itself. Wow! How about that Pope?

Who says religious leaders have no positive impact anymore? Pope Francis shows us how it can be done, all while staying true to our own particular values. I offer 6 leadership lessons we can all learn from the Pontiff—regardless of your beliefs.

  1. Don’t pander to the crowd. Pope Francis doesn’t lead by opinion poll. He’s not trying to be all things to all people. He holds some values that US liberal voters resonate with and some that conservative voters resonate with. He doesn’t apologize for what he believes or try to hide it or change it. Good leaders don’t pander to the crowd or change their stripes when polls fluctuate. They stick with what they believe.
  2. Don’t pander to the institution. At the same time that Pope Francis doesn’t change his talking points for the crowd, he has distinguished himself from the institution he serves. Apparently he hasn’t changed Catholic doctrine, but he sure has donned new interpretive lenses, and a new narrative to go with it. Because of this he has somehow managed to inspire left and right alike. He has shown us how to be true to yourself and true to your core beliefs, even as you lead an ancient/aging institution into a new day. This kind of leadership is not for the faint of heart.
  3. Align your behavior with your values. Many of us leaders say one thing but do another. Not Pope Francis. He says he cares about the poor and he spends time ministering to poor people. He says he cares about the common good and he lives in a modest apartment, not the papal palace. He says he cares about the well-being of the earth and he writes and speaks on it extensively.  It almost goes without saying, but good leaders practice what they preach.
  4. Use a big umbrella. While Pope Francis is the spiritual leader of some 1.2 billion Catholics, he addressed his message to all of humanity. One has the sense that he cares about all of us, not just “his” people. How very Jesus-like of him.   Pope Francis is leading with a very large vision that encompasses the common good for all humanity, all creation, all religions, all immigrants, the whole planet. How can you expand your message to address people beyond your own circle?
  5. Talk softly and carry a large vision. Pope Francis spoke softly, almost cautiously, before Congress. But his words, and his life, packed a wallop. He didn’t need to shout. He didn’t need to worry about stage presence. His vision, his values, his life, his encyclical were his message.
  6. Be for something. A vision is most positive and engaging when it is for something, not against. Pope Francis is for the family, for religious freedom, for the poor. (Personally, I hope that his vision will expand and he and the Church will one day soon be for gay marriages and families.)   Polarization increases when we only name what we are against. Jesus stood for the Kingdom of God. What and who do you stand for?

Here’s a bonus leadership lesson for us spiritual leaders: Be steeped in your own spiritual life. Pray, read scripture, examine your soul, grow, pray some more. Let the very presence of God precede you, infuse you, and linger long after you have left. So may it be.

The Glorious Trouble with Young Clergy

by | Sep 8, 2015

Once upon a time, I was a young clergy person.   I was full of passion and verve, hope and vision. My call was fresh. My courage was strong. The first church I served, an African-American congregation, was every bit as exciting as I’d hoped it would be. But as I continued on in ministry, I seemed to meet with more resistance. Was it me? Or was it them?

In hindsight, I think it was a little bit of both, with a large portion of rapid culture shift thrown in for good measure. I had a chance to test my assumptions last week when I met with a baker’s dozen of young clergy from around the country. They’re part of a select group I have the privilege of mentoring in how to create a culture of renewal. While we were together, I figured out the trouble, the glorious trouble, with young clergy.

Young clergy around the country are doing amazing ministry. There’s the Minnesotan who launched a worshiping community that embraces earth care as a de facto matter of Christian stewardship. I think of the bright visionary in my own region, Rev. Stephanie Price, who is starting a new congregation with a piece of land. Then there’s the pastor who is organizing a congregation around food and table fellowship.

But it’s not just avant garde ministries that attract talented young clergy. At last week’s retreat, I met high church aficionados, deeply earnest pastoral caregivers, culturally savvy leaders who welcome otherwise marginalized GBLTQ folks, and disciples who have had unforgettable spiritual awakenings. Their ministries are all taking place within established congregations.

Yes, they are up against shifting cultural expectations, a rapidly moving world, and a certain measure of resistance to change. But for all the talk of decline in the local church, these young men and women are signs of local church vitality, denominational structures that functioned well, the enduring power of Jesus’ vision, and the insistent, cajoling voice of God which got through to them.

No, they’re not perfect. Who is? But they are awesome; the future is in good hands. Here’s why I think so. In other words, here is the glorious trouble with young clergy:

  1. They refuse to stay down. As a young clergy person, I got into stinking thinking, convinced that church decline was somehow my problem. If I could do more and more, and get better and better at it, the church would magically turn around. That line of thinking got me down, and wore me out. These young clergy understand the problems with denominational church in the 21st century; they’re not in denial. But they stay inspired by their call, signs of the Kingdom, and the small wins that lead to larger wins.
  2. They network. I participated in coaching groups and regular continuing education events, but these clergy have so many more options than I did when I was starting out. More than ever, denominations are inventing life-giving ways to help new clergy stay connected. These clergy are taking advantage of those connections.They know how to establish life-giving connections—virtual and face to face—that keep them grounded.
  3. They are culturally savvy. Because they are products of the very culture we are seeking to reach, they are not afraid to draw upon this inventiveness in their own ministries. They are crafting creative ways to pay the bills, keep the lights on, do missional ministry, and manifest the Kingdom. They are looking for creative ways to grow their churches, not playing into the larger narrative that might have them looking for ways to shut them down.
  4. They know how to play. A playful attitude goes a long way toward creating breakthroughs. Keeping it serious and keeping it real all the time can drain the joy out of ministry.
  5. They are experienced. They may be young in age, but many of them have been at it for years.   Some have come up through the ranks, serving every local church position before responding to the call to ministry. Others have been serving as pastor for many years already. They’ve got a lot of time with boots on the ground.

What can the rest of us …young and young at heart… learn from our newer brothers and sisters in the ministry?
Crowdsource community. Put away the Lone Ranger outfit. Creative engagement with colleagues and community leads to creative engagement with the church.   The options for growth are endless. But creating new kinds of conversation is what brings the new realities about. Dialogue, not monologue is the answer.
Rule #62. (Go ahead, Google it!) Don’t take yourself so damn seriously! Laughter and playfulness can go a long way toward generating new creativity. And for lightening the occasional load of worry.
Get a Mentor. It’s never too late to enter a discipling relationship. Drawing upon the strength and fellowship of a colleague who is standing with and for you is invaluable! Plus it gives you the chance to personally experience what it is you may be trying to draw others into.
Cross-disciplinary approach. Look to the non-profit world, and even the business world to discover creative engagement with the ever-changing world around us.
Exegete the culture. Barth said to preach with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. Today, we might exchange the newspaper for a movie pass or the remote.  The cultural conversation is full of Christ references and Gospel attributions.
Trust the movement of the Holy Spirit. Announcing and manifesting the Kingdom was Jesus’ purpose in life. He is continuing to call new disciples and recruit new believers. Trust the process and where it leads.

Finally, there is one thing that we all need to focus on—whether you’re 22 or 72. It’s this: Increase Your Emotional Intelligence. Creative conversations, inventive visions and social capital are our primary resources for ministry. Everything else follows. More on this next time. But in the meantime, let me leave you with this thought:   learn how to apply the Platinum Rule, and not just the Golden Rule.

If you’d like to find out how to master this key learning the 21st century, please reach out. I’d be happy to talk with you!

The 4 Best No’s Your Church Can Say

by | Aug 17, 2015

The power of affirmation is well known in human relationships. In fact social scientists have identified the ideal ratio of positive to negative statements for happy and healthy marriages and work environments; it’s 5:1. The same applies to churches. Robert Schnase, author of Just Say Yes! outlines critical ways individuals, systems and congregations can say yes to insure church health. As he points out, there are all kinds of ways that yes empowers growth.

But yes isn’t the only one-syllable word that creates health and happiness. Equally important is the word no. Too many yesses can spoil children, and churches. Jesus said no at key points in his life. Each no furthered and focused his ministry. In the same way, no can sharpen your ministry and inject new vitality into your leadership.

Discover if your church is suffering from too much yes and not enough no. And the 4 ways you can get back on track.

Saying Yes to Avoid Hurt Feelings
Does your church say yes to everything for fear of hurting feelings or offending people? Chances are this tendency means you are not actually able to affirm your vision. Or that you have no vision. Just because you can do it doesn’t mean you should do it. Your activities need to line up with your vision. Otherwise, they dilute your efforts while giving the congregation the false sense that you are accomplishing something.

Let’s take a look at Jesus’ ministry here. Early on in his ministry, Jesus was ministering in the Galilee, healing people and upgrading the quality of their lives. “Stay,” the people begged him, “please!” “Nope, no way, can’t stay.” Jesus replied. “I have to share this with the other towns too.” (Luke 4:40-440) That’s a paraphrase of course, but you get the idea. This no allowed him to focus his efforts, share his vision, and expand his impact. The locals wanted nothing more than to keep Jesus for themselves. Understandably so. But staying would have prevented Jesus from living his dream, and fulfilling his purpose in life. Since he couldn’t send out Kingdom tweets, or Skype into the next town, he said no, laced up his sandals, threw on his backpack, and kept on going.

This no requires clarity, courage, and the willingness to disappoint or even offend people. The upside is it frees people up for ministry that matters, and aligns the church with its purpose. You can get back on track by surveying your active ministries. Weigh each one against your vision statement and against your available volunteers. See if it really advances your mission or not. If it’s just for the locals, see about re-engaging them in something with a greater return on investment. If it advances the mission but you don’t actually have the people for it, give it a rest, at least for a season. Don’t be afraid to disappoint people for the greater good.

Saying Yes to Reduce Fear and Avoid Risk
Do you say yes to anxiety and fear and no to a necessary risk? One church I know of feared the potential negative impact of hosting a Spanish-speaking ministry in their building. “What if we can’t understand each other?” they worried. “What if something breaks or breaks down and we can’t solve the problem because we don’t share a common language?” Those anxieties weighed down on the Church Council and ultimately the pastor. This church ended up saying no. A second church opened up their doors to the ministry, and has experienced renewed vitality because of it.   The first church said no to a necessary risk. The second church said no to the naysayers.

In the Gospel, Peter tried to dissuade Jesus from taking a necessary risk; one that would end up getting Jesus killed. On the surface, Peter’s concern was well-founded, laudable even. But Jesus saw through the false comfort it offered and said no, forcefully, “Get thee behind me Satan!” Jesus knew he must take the risk of moving forward. Otherwise, once again, his vision would not be fulfilled.

Where are you letting people talk you out of taking risks? It’s time to say no to the naysayers so you can take necessary risks. As one of my favorite sayings goes, “Nice girls rarely make history.” In other words, too much caution takes you out of the game. So press on, trust God, and take risks to advance the cause.

Saying Yes to Keeping Things Small
Are you a “just us” church? Saying yes to keeping things all in the family? This can mean only looking toward people who share your primary ethnicity, socioeconomic status, generation, world view, educational background or even religion.

Jesus famously said no the people closest to him. His mother and brothers wanted to see him while he was holding court with his disciples. (Matthew 12:47-49) As much he loved them and as great a value as family was and is in Judaism, Jesus put them off. He was building a larger community. It incorporated Pharisees and Zealots, poor and rich, saints and sinners, friends and enemies, the exploited and the exploiters. Eventually it even incorporated Gentiles into a distinctly Jewish movement.

It’s time to look and see if you have been saying yes to subtle pressure to keep things “in house.” Time to say no to shutting out the other. Intentionally welcome gay, lesbian, and transgender persons. Begin a prison ministry. Open up your aging congregation to kids from the nearby school. Create an outreach to immigrant or refugee families.   Let your building be used by other groups. Even if some of your people grumble, groan or leave, God will remain faithful.

Saying Yes to Everything
Do you have a hard time saying no to requests? If you can’t say no to some things, you’ll never have the time or energy to say yes to the things you are absolutely called to do. Maxie Dunnan famously said, “Not every need is a call.”   Sure, people have needs, and lots of them. But there are over 7 billion people and countless creatures on the planet. God has plenty of other options beside you and your congregation.
Jesus wasn’t always on. He wasn’t always available. He insisted on protecting his time to keep intact his spiritual unity with God. He took time away from teaching, healing, vision-casting, and disciple-making. That’s when he went away to pray, to talk with God, and maybe just to rest.
Church leader: don’t let your heart of love bleed you dry. Or talk you into staying past your effectiveness. Take your Sabbath. Take your vacation. Take your continuing education time. Then, when the time is right, take your leave.

Each time you say no, you run the risk of sharpening your vision, calling people to greater faith, and upping your game. Yes, there may be disappointments. Yes, people may leave. Yes, you make be taking on more risk than previously. But what are we here for after all?

The 6 Most Familiar and Challenging Words of Jesus

by | Aug 10, 2015

“Love God, and love your neighbor.” Those six words are familiar from the parable of the Good Samaritan, and they are at the core of Judeo-Christian ethics. Any church that seeks to be faithful will want to address the complicated meaning of that short sentence.

So we ask the same question that led Jesus to tell the parable: “And who is my neighbor?” And that is where it gets hard.  Jesus didn’t answer the question. He turned it around, and asked what characterizes neighborly behavior. Jesus’ compelling story makes it clear that the call to love your neighbor will always stretch us out beyond our comfort zones.

The stretch of neighborliness is far more demanding (and exciting!) in our modern world than it used to be. These days, we live within a rapidly changing, globalized community. We’re connected through economic systems and new forms of communication. New discoveries in science reveal layers of relationship that most of us had never even imagined.

In the 21st Century, “love your neighbor” is a far-reaching aspiration, indeed. It seems to me that today’s Christians need to be very explicit as we expand the circles of neighborliness in three ways.

1. Our neighbors include the whole human family.
A walk through the grocery or the clothing store reveals how closely we’re tied to producers in far-away parts of the world. The worldwide markets for oil tie us directly to citizens of Nigeria, where unregulated oil production devastates human health and livelihood. We are neighbors of the residents of Pacific islands, whose countries are beginning to be inundated by rising seas — a rise caused in large part by the rich world’s pollution.

In our interconnected world, we’re in close connection with all of these people through our lifestyles and our purchases. Will we “walk by on the other side” when we know of their distress and their need? Or will we respond with acts of compassion, and with work toward justice?

2. Our neighbors include future generations.
If we are neighbor to all of Earth’s people today, we also are neighbor to the coming generations whose world will be transformed by today’s choices. Because of our generation’s actions, they will be forced to live in a hotter world, a world without thousands of species, a world with more people but diminished resources.

There are many ways that today’s decisions will have a direct impact on generations yet to come. Careless farming practices erode and poison precious topsoil, and reckless use of fresh water empties aquifers that will take thousands of years to recharge. Overfishing is threatening the bounty of the oceans, and the continuing use of fossil fuels drives global climate change.

Among our neighbors, those people are truly voiceless, because they don’t exist yet. They can’t stand in front of us to speak about their rights, their interests, and their needs. When we recognize our neighborly ties to the future, we will speak and act on their behalf.

3. Our neighbors include the rest of creation.
We must stretch, too, beyond our human neighbors. We are to be neighbor to all the variety of life with whom we share this planet.
Now, that’s a really hard notion for some people to grasp. Our culture, generally, thinks of the natural world only as things with monetary value, but not moral worth. We’re learning, though, how well and how lovingly those neighbors include us in their care. Bees pollinate many of the plants that supply our food. Wetlands purify our water. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Bacteria in our own digestive systems help our bodies stay healthy. We are blessed and nurtured by the actions of other species, just as they are touched for good or ill by our lives.

We are part of an intricate web of life, and we’re bound together in relationship with a multitude of creatures. We do well — both morally and as a matter of self-interest — to be just and caring in our treatment of our other-than-human neighbors.

A part of our human nature wants to contract the boundaries of neighborliness. We’re inclined to think locally, to focus on friends and family, to value the present moment more than the future. But when our churches teach and practice expansive neighborliness, we are called into a richer faithfulness. We discover joy when we live in right relationship with folk all around the world, with attention to future generations, and with mindfulness of the whole web of life.

Thanks to my friend the Rev. Peter Sawtell for this timely piece. Peter is the Executive Director of Eco-Justice Ministries, and author of the weekly commentary, Eco-Justice Notes.

Did Jesus Take a Vacation?

by | Aug 3, 2015

The vacation is one of the finest tools for spiritual leadership development. It allows you to practice being instead of doing—a must for spiritual leaders. The word dates back to the late 14th century, from the French, and means freedom from obligations, leisure, release. But the idea itself goes back to the ancient world: Egyptians, Greeks and Romans traveled for education, entertainment and culture.

Did Jesus vacation? Hard to say for sure, but we know he and his family traveled. Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth for an extended stay while they were both pregnant. Joseph and Mary traveled for the census-taking. After Jesus was born, Joseph shepherded his young family to Egypt for safety. Later, they regularly went up to Jerusalem for the week of Passover—perhaps the closest thing to vacation we can imagine. They probably traveled for the other two pilgrimage-related holidays as well. No doubt these were fun times of family, feasting, and celebration; long-standing ties would have been strengthened and new friendships made.   Visiting the Temple itself would have been a religious and cultural highlight.

But whether or not Jesus took an actual vacation as we know it, here are the top 9 reasons you should.

    1. Vacations give you perspective. Nothing like getting away to help you reflect on where you’ve been. Jesus himself took regular time away from the pressures of leadership. His alone time with God allowed him to get back it with vigor.
    2. The demands of church life are such that you can stay busy 24/7 and still never get it all done. If you’re one of those who thinks, “As soon as I get it all done, then I’ll take a break,” check out Workaholics Anonymous Book of Recovery for a new perspective. There is no such thing as “done.”
    3. Vacations allow much needed time with family, friends. Or perhaps, in some cases, away from family and friends! As much as I cherish my family and friends, a few solo trips I have taken stand out as times I grew the most.
    4. The Sabbath and holidays are not automatic days off for you. In fact, you’re working the hardest on the days others are resting and relaxing. God refrained from what he was doing to rest on the 7th day. Jesus did too. But most of us don’t get to.
    5. Vacations help you remember you are a human being and not a human doing. Doing, doing, doing can bleed you dry. Simply being with God, yourself, and your loved ones, is soul-satisfying. It helps you remember who you are. And whose you are.
    6. American vacations in the 18th and 19th centuries often revolved around religious retreats and denominationally oriented “camp meetings.” Take heart in knowing your spiritual forebears took time off. You can too.
    7. Even if you opt for a “staycation,” a break from the regular routine can bring about new insights and allow you time to think new thoughts. Or perhaps not think at all!
    8. A vacation can help you cultivate new interests, see new places, and deepen your appreciation for the landscapes, creatures and curiosities of the vast world we live in. Last year, I camped and hiked in an International Dark Sky Park. It wasn’t terribly far from my home, but it was a world away. Reconnecting with the night sky was a gift.
    9. You may have paid time off coming. Use it or lose it! I know many clergy who have denominationally-mandated yearly continuing education time who don’t take it, access to funding for it who don’t use it, and sabbatical time off every 7 years who never take advantage of it. What a waste!

This summer, I put a vacation reply on my email, left my calendar at home, went to my husband’s family reunion, hiked, read some good books, napped in the sun, poked around in a few places I’ve never been before, and generally did a whole lot of nothing. What a pleasure! In fact, I’m not done vacationing yet. Yes, I’ll be looking forward to being back at it….refreshed and rejuvenated…when the time comes. In the meantime, there’s more nothing to be done.