I know that FaceBook and Twitter are often used to give updates to what a person is doing at a particular moment. Since I have neither account I cannot do that. And won’t do that here either. However, I hope you will stick with me as I tell you about two things that happened to me this week that give the reason for the title.
On Sunday, while I was riding, I received a phone call. Since I was climbing a hill, I let it go to voice mail. Didn’t think whoever it was would want to be on the other end of someone dying. 🙂 It was from my uncle in Texas, my late mother’s last living sibling. They were coming through Indiana while heading to the New England area (where my aunt has family) and wanted to know if they could stop by and visit. Translated: would you mind if we spent the night? Since my mother died in March of 2004 I have only seen them once and was more than happy to do so. We went out to eat at the local Mexican restaurant and then spent the evening laughing and reminiscing…a lot about my mom and grandparents. They next morning before they left, I watched a video presentation put together by their grandson to help celebrate their 50th anniversary last month. It was absolutely priceless to me. I saw family I had never seen or met and also saw some pictures of my mom and grandparents. When they left a bit later it was like a part of me left with them. But it was refreshing.
Today, one of the men in the church I pastor called and asked me if I wanted to go to lunch with him. We had been trying to talking about getting together all summer and with a little schedule shift I was able to go. He took me to Chipotle (my favorite restaurant) and we had a fantastic time. Our musical tastes are much the same so I listened to a song by Eddie Vedder and one by the Foo Fighters (both of which had a great meaning) and a little Hendrix. We walked, ate some ice cream and talked some more. Oh yeah, we laughed a lot too. Caleb is one of my favorite people.
I don’t tell you this just to give you a glimpse into my private life but to make a point. In the midst of a very hectic week (and against my better wishes I took something like 5 phone calls just while with Caleb), I found two times of oasis. One came from seeing family that brought with it a time to reminisce. The other came from a friend who simply “gave of himself” today. He simply wanted to do something for me. Let’s face it folks: we all need those time of refreshing, a time when we pull away from the serious & hectic pace and kick back and relax. Sometimes we do it with a friend. Sometimes we get lost in a book. Sometimes some activity or “escape.” But we all need those times to “let our hair down” and allow a slower pace or a relaxed conversation take us to another place. My day is better because of it.
We need to do that spiritually as well. The late Keith Green had lyrics to a song that said, “Come away, come away, come away with me my love.” It was God talking to His church. It is important to get away and be alone with God.
How about you? How long has it been since you took some time to be refreshed? Have you had a get-away recently? Do you have someone you can “be yourself” with? If so, did you say thanks? Drop them a note to let them know how important it was to you. Finally, how long has it been since you have been away with God? Any thoughts? I would like to hear from you.
It has been a while, since I have went off by myself to be refreshed. Need to go and do that. Thank you.
PS. The fact that you like Eddie Vedder makes you that much cooler. 🙂
My wife and I have a special relationship with her brother and his wife. We are all in ministry and hard at it. We rarely get time to spend with one another because we are so busy. But the drive is only an hour, and when we can we do get together. We talk about everything – nothing is sacred. We encourage each other and pray for on another. I cherish these encounters.
That’s a beautiful parlaying of a couple real-life experiences. The point was well made and well taken.
“Come away with me my love” – God so wants to be with us.
A reporter was interviewing Mother Teresa once. He asked her, “When you pray to God, what do you say?” She replied, “I don’t say anything, I listen.” He then asked, “Well, what does GOD say?” She replied, “He listens.”
🙂
Michael: Find the time. And thanks for calling me cool. The song I listened to was from a movie he wrote the soundtrack to I believe. Can’t tell you what the name of the song was though. It was about “trivial pursuits.”
Herb: glad to hear you all have someone. Also glad to hear you make time.
Scott: thanks for the kind words. Glad it “said something.” Thanks for the MT story.
I knew there was a reason we hit it off- Chipotle is one of my favorites too (even though we don’t have them in Juneau). I agree, we need those refreshing moments. I went out today on my lunch hour to drive around and just pray. It was a wonderful time.
Glad you are being refreshed! Thanks, Bill.
I just recently had some refresher time, but I’ll be the first to tell ya, I’m ready for it again :-).
We all need a break once in awhile.
My question for you Bill….why so adamant against Facebook and Twitter?? NEVER?? I understand Twitter being a bit much to some, but Facebook?? Friends, family?? It’s good to be in the loop…..you do control what and how much, if anything, you put out there. Ok, my sales pitch is over :D.
Oh, and I’m “myself” regardless of who I’m with….faults and all :-).
My time in the camp was certainly refreshing. Of course there were times of frustration, but there were also times when my boys behaved and I enjoyed just watching them…
I have been extremely blessed with having a few people I can truly be myself with. They are friends from Church as well as from work, and they “get” me… I don’t have to pretend to be someone better around them, yet it becomes a natural desire to BE better just because they accept me for who I am. And I am thankful for the blogging community that I have found in you, Michael, Dusty, Herb, and the others 🙂 You guys rock.
Being away with God… heh. I think last time it was last night – i was home alone and we got to really talk… and again, in the camp, there were a few times when i managed to leave the boys with the other two counselors and just went to the seashore, stood in the waves close to the beach, and just reveled in His love and care.
Jason: My dream has always been to visit Alaska. Maybe I can come and bring some Chipotle with me or talk to corporate and tell them they need to put one there. 😛 Glad you had that chance to be alone and pray.
Toby: Understand about the quick need for refresher time. 😛
Okay trouble-maker: I have an old phone that would make Twitter almost evil. As for FB: I am honoring my wife with it. Plus…I have enough to do at home w/o being on the computer at night as well as at the office.
Zee: Amazing how kids, even boys, get under the skin after some time with them. Glad you have friends whom you can be close to and open up with. Keep that alive. I love the way God shows up at “strange” times.
HA! Just messin with ya Bill. I understand if you’re SKEERED of twitter…..get ya an iPhone and some accounts and come 2011, I’ll come down and teach a class :-).
I got from Michaels site to yours. Loved this post. There has been going on so much now that when I read this I so long for a refreshment. Okay, I can also go and get that refreshment myself. I will have a talk with Jesus. song is coming up in my mind. Have little talk with Jesus. Also need another kind of refreshment. I mean something to drink. It’s hot out here. Thanks for sharing. It was refreshing.
Toby: skeered? Do I really have to go 2011? I went kicking and screaming into the cell phone age. LOL
Ani: thanks for visiting. I have seen your name on several blogs but just have not had the time to follow through on my searching. I will check on yours. But thanks for the kind words. I hope you do get refreshing from God and the heat. Not sure yet where you are from but it is hot here also in Indiana. Today is a break…it is to hit only 90. I like it though to cycle in. Thanks again for dropping by.
Haha, no I don’t have a blog. I’m the odd one out here. I’m not on Twitter, not on Facebook and don’t have a blog. I already wrote on Duance Scott’s blog that I’m not into blogging if you call it that way. Bloggers need readers so I will be the reader. So you all keep writing I will come back and read.
About Twitter, there are some people telling me to get on Twitter but I don’t see the use of it. I’m from The Netherlands and none of my friends are on Twitter and/or Facebook. We have Hyves here to chat. But it feels so stupid to chat with people I just talked to and will see again. So stupid. I just can’t do it. I’m more a face to face person. Can you imagine if we would meet in person I would be telling you more than I write. So it’s better we don’t meet. haha.
ps: I like your name here. Cycleguy. We cycle a lot here.
Ani: No wonder it didn’t connect. 🙂 I am not on Twitter or FB either only for different reasons. Cycling? Did someone say cycling? I crossed 1500 miles this year today. Thanks again for coming by.
I did that today…twice! Had a cup of JOE in the morning with a dear brother. Then a lunch date with my wife by the river…shuuuuuweeet!
Thanks for sharing bro’ appreciate ya!
Jay sounds like a great time except for that cup of JOE. (I don’t drink coffee) 🙂 Now Diet Dr. Pepper is another story. Thanks for dropping by.