Posted on Wednesday, 3rd August 2011 by Bill Bean
Someone shared a post with me from one of the Harvard Business Review blogs. Probably not the place you would expect to get spiritual guidance. The best kind rarely comes from expected sources.
Whitney Johnson had this to say in her post, Go Ahead Take That Break.
“When we do nothing (take a walk, a warm shower, slowly wake up), we defy the “always on” mindset, recognizing that we, like our muscles, become more productive by alternating work with rest. As leaders, we can encourage this healthy rebellion by example. We may think we’re being responsive, even impressive, when we send work-related e-mails at midnight, on the weekend, or vacation, but those who work for us will see us as establishing a norm. If you will take some real down-time without the constant tug of technology or a to-do list absorbing your thoughts, you will give your employees permission to do the same.”
Can you relate to the “constant tug of technology” or a constant pre-occupation with all that needs to get done?
In a past life I had a blog titled The Unnecessary Pastor. I “stole” the title from a book by Eugene Peterson of the same name. (I certainly recommend his books, especially Long Obedience in the Same Direction.) Ever since reading that book I’ve held on to this quote, which seems to go well with Whitney’s HBR post.
“Rest is the ultimate humiliation because in order to rest, we must admit we are not necessary, that the world can get along without us, that God’s work does not depend on us. Once we understand how unnecessary we are, only then might we find the right reasons to say yes. Only then might we find the right reasons to decide to be with Jesus instead of working for him.” ~ Mike Yaconelli
So many things I must learn/re-learn, not the least of which is resting and practicing my unnecessariness.
Thank you Whitney, Eugene, and Mike.
Posted in Spirituality | Comments (2)
August 3rd, 2011 at 10:51 pm
Need to go put some steel-toed boots on now to protect my smashed piggies. The challenge for me to allow myself to become unnecessary is to say “No” more, so I can say “Yes” to rest and recharge more.
August 9th, 2011 at 11:25 am
well, american ministry doesn’t really lend itself to this type of thinking/living, does it? i think most of us who have done anything along those lines struggles with this. always, always a good reminder, thanx!