Preacher on the Run…

I’m excited for this summer—not the usual kind of excited. You know, the excitement that comes from a week of vacation, Saturdays by the pool, or extra time with the family since the kids are out of school. Don’t get me wrong, I am still looking forward to all of those things. But there is greater excitement brewing for me as we race toward summer. The reason? I am blessed to have a 2-month sabbatical starting in June.

Now that you understand my added excitement, let me share something else. This extended time off also stirs up a fear in me. Wait, what?!!? Fear of having 2 months off work. Why would I have any fear of that? Well, besides revealing to you how messed up my thinking is, I think my fear shows a reality for many of us. Work (if doing it right) is something we all find some sort of purpose, meaning, and satisfaction in. It’s a place where we feel like we are accomplishing something. But therein lies the problem.

I know I am guilty of this. Maybe not all the time, but certainly more often than I’d like to admit. In some aspect, being human is to be made to work. We are designed for it. Created to create. Made to make. Wired to work. At least that is a Christian way of seeing a part of who we are. Yet Renita Reed-Thomson brings out a much needed caution for our lives and souls in her article: A Frequent Mistake: Seeking Meaning From Work.

So while I’m still excited for this summer, I’m fearful I, too, will see just how frequently I make the mistake that Renita warns of here. But I’m hopeful to also see how it’s not just about what I can get from work, but more importantly, what I can give to work that really shows who I am while I do no work. What about you? How’s your struggle with seeking meaning from work? What does that look like in your life? As always, I’d love to hear from my readers, so leave me a comment below. And don’t forget to be with the Lord’s people on the Lord’s Day.

Until Next Time…