Pause to Reflect: A Mini-Series on Release & Restore … You

These teachings are now available in 30 minute videos at our YouTube channel at 721ministries.org.

After this, Jesus went up into the high hills to spend the whole night in prayer to God. (Luke 6:12)

Back to our conversation about restoring your soul. (Pre-election) And trust me, you need it. I live a very balanced life these days. My weekly work schedule is about writing, preparation for speaking, then speaking. All of which I enjoy. I have a weekly rhythm that is full, very full, but always with a calm, relaxed pace. Until …

Until I fall into the grist mill of going from one task to the next to the next. Until I finish one call only to have three voicemails waiting. Until I get five emails back from the 721 men, who did not read my email, and therefore are asking me questions about information I just gave them.

(I love men’s ministry, except for the men.[i])

But as balanced as my life is, I had no idea how much I was missing. That is, until our weekend with John Eldredge, and then reading his excellent book, Get Your Life Back. He talks about pausing throughout the day and transitioning from one task to the next.

Now, I try to pause and breathe and relax several times throughout the day. I had no idea how much I was motoring through the day – even within my calm, relaxed pace.

Of course, I am sure you cannot possibly do this. I know I must acknowledge that if I only understood your schedule, and how good you are at multitasking, I would understand that you could not possibly find a pause in your schedule, and even more, you do not need to.

But I am undaunted.

My preparation days typically look like this:

1. Work on the lesson and the outline for the men’s 721 meetings that week.
2. Work on the radio show script.
3. Prepare the YouTube video
4. Write this Putting Green.
5. Edit it ten times.
6. Field calls and texts and emails.
7. Deal with the cacophony of the culture.

I have no doubt yours looks very similar.

I finish the outline and lesson for the men’s meetings, then I immediately jump to writing this Putting Green, then I start working on the radio show. All the while I am interrupting myself by looking at my cell phone, checking news feeds, my weather app and sports news.

I check emails and texts and voicemails throughout this process as well.

Madness!

I was going from one to the next to the next. I was giving myself no chance to recover, and certainly no chance to pause, and transition from one to the next. I was depleting my emotional energy bank, as well as my soul. But I was too task-oriented to see it.

Now, though, I try to pause and appreciate what I have just accomplished, before jumping to the next project. When I complete a task, a project, or whatever, I pause, and often listen to Eldredge’s One Minute Pause app.** I take a deep breath and thank the Holy Spirit for assisting me, guiding me, and energizing me. Then I move on to the next thing.

You could do this, too. I know, I know, you do not need to, and you live in the real world – not Sam’s ministry world. But I am not talking about burning incense and swaying and humming, with your legs crossed, wearing sandals. I am just asking you to consider a pause, from time to time.

May you, my friend, find a way to learn to pause throughout your day, refill your soul’s tank, and transition from one task to the next, not frenetically, but thoughtfully and gracefully.

**NOTE: Eldredge developed a free “Pause” app that is terrific. Do not just blow this off – like I probably would. This “pause” app has become an essential part of my day. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/one-minute-pause/id1471913620

[i] Another Men’s Ministry Director