How do these words hit you?

Escape

Get away

Rest

Vacay

Peace

Fun

For years, the word ESCAPE was sort of like CHOCOLATE to me. It made my mouth water at the thought of it. I was in a constant state of the need to get away from it all. Can you relate? I’m sort of a two-speed kind of person…ON & OFF. I’ve had to work on finding a sustainable pace. (Still working on this and seems like no matter all the great books I’ve read and podcasts I’ve listened to on the subject, it’s part of my salvation I’m still working out.)

Anybody with me or am I all alone over here? With this comes go, go, go when there needs to be more of “be still and know that I am God”.

This past week we escaped to the Florida Keys, a trip I’ve wanted to take for a very long time with our family and just in the knick of time we got to do it before they are completely grown and gone. They are 18 and 22 so the clock is ticking when it comes to family vacations as we know it. So thankful for our week of rest and fun! Alas, it was truly as wonderful as I had imagined!

But a little reality check: Have you ever been on vacation and you realize you have forgotten the art of true rest? It took me a few days to completely unhook and ahhhhh when I did, I completely forgot that I had a small group I had intended to still lead virtually. Before you scowl at me for either still planning to do it on vacation or for missing it altogether, let me tell you…I’ve already scolded myself sufficiently. Should’ve / Shouldn’t have…. After “shoulding” all over myself for a few minutes, I stopped and allowed myself to make a mistake. I didn’t mean to mess up. But I DID MESS UP. So guess what, here I was in paradise mad at myself for not just canceling it or for remembering it had I not canceled it. Then of course I was looking for who I could blame for it. There was no one. So then the choice was simple…let it go and get back to rest. This time was planned to rest and get away so I chose to just settle back into the fun time I was right smack dab in the middle of with my family at 8:15 pm on Thursday evening precisely 15 minutes after said small group was set to commence. So I became ok with the fact that I’m not perfect.

Here’s the deal, even in paradise, we are there, which messes it all up from being perfect! 🙂 I think what helps me is to understand that even with rest or vacation, to expect perfection leaves us dissatisfied. People have built entire cities attempting to create a utopia. I’ve been to some of these cities and walkable communities and guess what? These places are so nice but utopia doesn’t exist.

What does exist is real peace and rest. When we choose to rest and enjoy peace instead of the hustle and bustle and even when things don’t go perfectly, life is good! Unhooking from it all is essential for us to thrive and find our balance.

Our goal is to rest a little each day, rest for one full day each week, take a few days off every few months, and take a minimum of two weeks off each year. We are not perfect at this but am so thankful for my awesome husband who makes sure to not only provide well for our family financially but he also understands the importance of providing rest and times away for us. If we can’t seem to find time to get away, we will just turn around and he has up and booked a vacation that we all happily join him on!

Joyce Myer says sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is go to sleep. I’d like to add to that by saying sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is go on vacation! You are worth the investment and so are those you love. I pray to hear back from you of all the awesome memories you make with your family as a result of this blog.

Rest! Relax! It will be there when you get back! And hey, it’s just money. I’m believing God to provide not just for your needs but also for your rest and rejuvenation!

Happy Monday!

PS…..email me at acooley@harvestmobile.com if you are interested in having me come and speak to your group in person or virtually or to go live with me online or to have me pray with you or to let me know how you plan to rest this summer! XOXO