Build a life you don’t need to escape from.
As young boys, my friends and I spent almost all of our time playing in the forest. We would build tree forts and spend countless hours living in a make-believe world filled with dangerous adventures and daring missions.
Once, I was taking a solo trip into our new tree-fort project and was passing through a large clearing. Hundreds of yards away, I noticed a hunter in bright orange, carrying a rifle. He was far away, but I could see him raise his gun and point it in my direction! I heard the crack of the first shot, and then a second, and I started running into the thicker brush.
To this day, I never knew why he shot at me. Likely I was mistaken for an animal, or maybe he'd had a few beers before hitting the trail. In any case, I was the target, so I ran flat-out into thick woods. Deeper and deeper, I fought my way through the forest, full of panic and fright.
When I slowed to a walking pace, I was lost. In the commotion, I had lost my bearings. I continued a swift and disorganized walk hoping to find my way out. I was getting tired but was too focused (or too unfocused) to take a break.
Finally, after hours of wandering meaninglessly, I stopped, sat down, and rested. It only took a few moments of rest for me to realize what I needed was a tall tree. I spied the tallest tree, and I climbed up the branches. From the new height, I could see smokestacks and knew I was only a moderate walk from home and in familiar wood. I wasn't as lost as I thought. With a new energy and proper direction, I headed home.
Sometimes what we need to do most is to do nothing. What we need is rest. It feels counterintuitive because we believe we should be taking action!
Resting will give you new energy and proper bearings. Weak leaders push harder. Smart leaders know when to get out of the game for a moment. It reminds me of tobogganing when I was a kid. There comes the point when the sled is going too fast, and it is best just to jump off. The trick is to jump while it is still possible.
In his must-read book, Leading On Empty, Wayne Cordeiro writes,
"Your system has to recharge, but it requires a trickle charge, one that restores you with a sustained low amperage. There is no quick return on this one. If you do this right, you may return to the level of ministry you had in the beginning. But honestly, most never return to the level of performance they had before the burnout. If you can't take a year, take as long as you can. Any amount is better than nothing. The only way to finish strong will be to first replenish your system. If you don't, prepare for a crash."
I once heard someone say, "If you don't make time for your wellness, your body or mind will force you to take time for your sickness. "
You can build a life that doesn't always feel like you need a break from it. Rest can be woven into your week, and you can be recharged as you go.