Some free days ...

Sunday, Dec 27, 2009. The time between Christmas and New Year is great. Usually most companies are closed, Universities are closed, holiday is enforced. Since it is holiday time for everyone, also my email is strongly slowing down. The usual stream of messages is interrupted, and I am experiencing a real relief. Though, there are still some industrious colleagues using the holiday time to get their backlogs resolved.

Before Christmas I had an extremely busy time this year. It was so full with the standard things as well as preparations for some changes in my job, that I hardly had time to think properly, to plan and reflect the things which happened in 2009 and which are about to start in 2010. But now, there is some time between the years, some free days.

How does it work with you when after a lot of pressure you suddenly have some free days. For me it is usually even more difficult. Slowing down takes some time - it seems to be hard work. I need a week or two, just to move into a slower pace, to get my body adjusted to free hours. But the mental work is even more severe. Changes in your job, in your rhythm of life, can take a serious part of your mental resources.

I try to find time to pray about the things which occupy my mind. Prayer is a time where I focus on God's view on my life. Prayer is a time of freedom in the presence of the Lord. I ask God for his view, for his arguments, for his word to guide my mind and my emotions. I am looking into the bible to listen to his word - to general principles and to very concrete ideas about what to do and what to leave. And I listen to the Holy Spirit in my prayer. That is fantastic, but also some challenge sometimes, to distinguish between my own ideas and wishes and his voice …

Man needs free days occasionally. We need time to rest - at least one day per week. God made Sunday for us to find some rest during the busy periods of our life. But we also need some longer rest, some time of holiday, celebration days, where we focus on his presence. He is there in everything we do. We can come back to him during the free days - and then walk with him in our usual activities.

Free days can be a great opportunity to search the Lord. He wants to meet us, again and again! [R.W.E.P., jesusnetwork.eu]

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