Sunday, September 21, 2008

Take a Break!

We live in a fast paced, go-and-get-‘em society. Our days are filled with appointments and scheduling and responsibilities and duties. We have to-do lists, and have-to-do lists, and absolutely-must-do lists. But when do we have time to spend with ourselves and God?

It is absolutely imperative to carve out a little personal time each day and to set aside some extended “me time” every now and again. My personal time usually begins when I open my eyes in the morning and lasts for about a half hour. That’s my time for prayer and meditation, reading and reflection.

But that’s not it. Do you realize the importance of the lunch hour? (Or lunch half-hour for some of my corporate brothers and sisters.) While, of course, there are days when stepping away from your desk is impossible, let’s just say that eating at your desk should be the exception, and not the rule. Take your lunch break every day by doing any of the following:

• Eat. Away from your desk.
• Leave the building. You might just walk around the grounds.
• Take a 20 minute nap. (Yes, I’ve done this in my car.)
• Run personal errands (like picking up that book you’ve been wanting to read).
• Call a friend and chat while they’re on lunch, too.
• Use the time to pray and talk to God.

When you return to your work, I can assure you that you’re more likely to feel recharged, refreshed, and refocused. And don’t even get me started on sick days and vacations. Let’s just say that if your Human Resources director understands the importance of taking a break, so should you.

During His ministry here on earth, we find a couple of examples of Jesus taking some “Me time” of His own. Luke 5:15-16 tells us that crowds of people were constantly seeking Him out, “but Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Having been here on earth and having lived a busy, productive life, Jesus understands your need for rest. In Matthew 11:28, he gives us the invitation, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

I’m taking a break and spending some quality time with Jesus this week. What about you?


Sunday, September 14, 2008

Which Body Are You?

There is a famous story of four people named Every Body, Some Body, Any Body, and No Body. There was an important job to be done and Every Body was asked to do it. Any Body could have done it, but No Body did it. Some Body got angry about that, because it was Every Body's job. Every Body thought Any Body could do it, but No Body realized that Every Body wouldn't do it. Consequently, it wound up that No Body told Any Body, so Every Body blamed Some Body.

Paul wrote in Romans 12 that as Christians, we are all part of the body of Christ. Just as our own body is comprised of parts with their own special function, each of us has our own special purpose. Paul lists ministering, teaching, and prophesying as examples. I would add writing, public speaking, and being creative to the list.

When a task is at hand, are you waiting for Every Body, Any Body, or Some Body to do the job that you could do yourself? Remember, if you don’t do it, there’s a chance No Body will.

I’m trying to be a productive part of the body of Christ. What about you?


Sunday, September 7, 2008

Do You Have the Right Attitude?

A classic test in psychoanalysis is the one where a person must respond to an image of a glass of water. “Is the glass half empty or is the glass half full?” the analyst asks. A “half empty” response reveals an overwhelmingly pessimistic attitude. But “half full” shows that the person looks toward the brighter side of things.

When writing, or approaching anything else in life, our attitude toward it makes all the difference. Are you pessimistically looking at the obstacles or optimistically anticipating the outcome?

A surprising reward is that being optimistic is contagious. All it takes is a little enthusiasm to get others around you to respond the same way. Pretty soon, you have an outpouring of “positivity” around you, which can give you the energy you need to get things done. (Recently, I added a little “Yay!” to the end of all of my meetings. Pretty soon, my team joined me in this corporate cheerleading—and our work has gone to a whole new level.)

The Bible instructs that as Christians, we are to have an optimistic attitude in all things. Proverbs 17:22 says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” The message is clear—a positive attitude brings life, and a negative one is destructive.

I’m choosing the right attitude. How about you?