Road to Recovery =

 
A little over a year ago I felt the Lord urging me to slow down. I had too many irons in the fire. I was wearing too many hats. And yes, I was also burning the candle at both ends. I needed to specifically "focus on my family". That's the answer I heard when praying about my situation.

I found myself involved in so many other things that I didn't have any time for my family. I was working two jobs (with a 40 minute commute between them), Involved at church (elder and pastor) from 3-5 days a week (plus study time), I had a fellowship at my home one night a week AND was processing somewhere between 20-40 lbs of beef jerky every week to sell at the farmers market (which took up my Saturdays). Every minute of every day was filled to the rim with brim.

Not to mention that I slowly found myself in disagreement with most of the teaching/beliefs/points of view in the church. If I don't agree with what my life is devoted to then there is a real riff in the fabric of why I am doing what I'm doing.

So I took a good hard look at everything I was "doing" and started asking God what He wanted me to be doing. I slowly backed out of most of my commitments, knocked down my hours at work, quit making all my delicious jerky and stepped down from my positions at church. And every time I would ask what I should be doing...the response was always that, I was doing it.

Once I started focusing on my family I realized just how neglected it was. Much like an old house that people live in but don't take care of, my life resembled just that. Had I not listened...well, I hate to think of what could of happened. We were dilapidated and had no idea of the impending eviction. All I can say is that I am thankful for that simple word from the Lord.

So now I'm a year out and I finally feel like I'm recovering from the BURNOUT

No, not that kind of burn out, but I thought it appropriate to add a little humor to my whining.

I finally feel as if I can breath. The answer for me was R&R.

The best part about this whole series of events is that now I can actually "do" what I feel called to do. Without "doing" what everyone else wants me to do.

I want to end this by extending some advice that I should have heeded a long time ago.

Put your family 1st.