Go Fast…Break Little

Written by cycleguy on April 15th, 2010

“I like to go fast, and use my brakes as little as possible.”

Frank McCormack, US pro racer; national cyclocrosschampion (1996); Killington stag race champion (1995); Norwest Cup winner (1995); US pro criterium champion (1995)

I found the above quote in an email sent to me this week by a cycling company.  I liked it…not necessarily because I cycle that way (I don’t and my wife needs to know that!)  🙂 but because it sort of tells the story of my life right now.  Tomorrow (Friday) is my day off.  I relish that day.  I have been taking Friday’s off since 1974, when the Sr. Pastor of the very first church I worked in following graduation insisted I pick a day off.  His was Thursday so I chose Friday.   It works out well for me since it is the end of the week.  I could never take Monday off because that is the day I really begin my week (especially since I start preparing my sermon for 4 weeks away that day) and it would put me  behind.  Then Tuesday would seem like another Monday.  Bad news!   Wednesday is out since for so many years I had Wednesday night Bible study.  I once had a Sr. Pastor tell me if I wanted a day off take Saturday.  I sort of laughed at him since that was the day I do a lot of memorization of my sermon for Sunday.   So Friday it is.  I like it.  My work week has pretty much been wrapped up (barring any emergency).  My sermon is done so I can relax.   I can go into the weekend with a fairly fresh outlook.

So…your turn.  Do you take a break?  Do you find yourself going fast and breaking little?  Is it time for a break?  When you do take a break, what do you do or like to do?

 

16 Comments so far ↓

  1. Michael says:

    This is something that I have struggled with. Being bi-vocational has made it difficult. Like you said, Saturday’s you spend time going over last minutes notes.

    With that being said. I typically don’t do anything Monday. No prep. No blog writing. No anything when I get home from work.

    I try and work it out so that I have done everything before then.

  2. cycleguy says:

    Michael: i sometimes wonder how bi-vo people do it. I spend a ton of hours every week in ministry for the church because that is what I do and get paid for. I admire all of you who do the bi-vo thing. Good for you about Monday.

  3. Jim F. says:

    I have been the vocational guy who never took a day off. I have been the full time Pastor who was told the only day off was Saturday. My day is Monday. It just works well with me and my wife. I have had Tuesday/Thursday/Friday as days off in the past and they worked okay but Monday has just fit me the best.

    Monday is the day I spend with my wife and we date while the kids are in school and we do something as a family in the summer (my wife and I will go out in the evening one night during week then).

  4. Phil Hoover says:

    I am learning to “take a break…” and it’s not easy…and I’m not in “professional ministry” either.

  5. Jeff Harris says:

    I have always made a deliberate effort to “flip the switch” between work and my personal life. I have never taken work home and I try not to even think about work when I am at home. As a CPA I tend not to have emergencies and so it is fairly easy to plan the hours I need to work. Some professions I am sure are more difficult to manage the time required to perform whatever tasks the job requires.
    My routine generally includes relaxing with a glass of whiskey when I get home and thinking about what I want or need to do on the home front. I generally have a project or two in the works around the house or just the usual cooking, cleaning, repair stuff that takes up time.
    My routine in the morning is getting up about 3 hours before work, reading, breakfast, and then off to work.
    I pretty much go to bed at 9 and wake up at 5 seven days a week. Worrying and hurrying are not in my vocabulary.

  6. Tom Raines says:

    Thanks for the reminder. We actually need rest to give our best. Need to hit those breaks. going full speed all the time leads me to just run over some folks…

  7. cycleguy says:

    Approved these and will respond later. All of you have some good things to say. Feel free to respond to each other.

  8. cycleguy says:

    Jim: glad you are now taking time off to be with Wendy and the kids. You will not regret it.

  9. cycleguy says:

    Phil: good to hear from you. I know you are in a transition in your life-getting into another career. I pray God gives you those moments of slow.

  10. cycleguy says:

    Jeff: you have found the key that many have lost: leaving stuff out of the house and at the office. I must admit you are a first though: most use a glass of wine instead. 🙂 Now that you are in Tanzania I hope you maintain your vigilance in finding time for your family, especially now that #2 is coming along. Thanks for commenting.

  11. cycleguy says:

    Tom: Thanks for stopping by. Running over people is never good-on or off the bike. Doing it while tired is common. Hope you find that “slow” time.

  12. Jeff Harris says:

    Bill,
    I am not in Tanzania. Although that might be a nice vacation. My second child was born 31 years ago. She is doing fine. And I am not a first on the glass of whiskey. My Father-in-Law, a retired Lutheran Minister, beat me to it by 20 years. Blogs are a great way to communicate without actually having to know who you are talking to.

  13. cycleguy says:

    Jeff: My sincere apologies. I mistook you for someone else who has occasionally contributed. Please accept my apology for misrepresenting you. The CPA should have been a tip off to me. I will be more careful next time. You and I must be close to the same age. My oldest is 34 and my youngest will be 31 in August.

  14. Linda M says:

    Hi Bill,
    It’s good that you have some freedom to have a glass of whiskey occasionally. For me, that would be out of the question. I like the taste of whiskey. That means for me I don’t go near it. Too much risk.
    I grew up in the home of my dad who was a alcoholic whiskey drinker. That was enough of an experience for me.

    I guess what I am trying to say here is that many Christians can’t drink for one reason or another. I know that Jesus drank wine, it was a part of his culture, but I don’t believe that he was a wine bibber. I believe it was a very occasional drink.
    I know what you mean. I am enjoying reading the blogs and blogging too. I just started blogging on Cycleguy a few weeks ago. Before that I didn’t do anything social on the web. Just searching for information. I’m involved in a matrimonial and spousal support matter mostly representing myself. To date it has been one of the most incredible experiences in my life. I’m sure getting an ‘eye opener’.

  15. Linda M says:

    Hi cycleguy,
    I have an upcoming deadline for a conference meeting with my former husband on May 10. I’ve got several things to do to get ready for this meeting.
    I’ll try to check in now and then but I may not be online with you on your website for a few days.
    This blogging is addictive! For me it’s like reading a novel. If I can’t put it down I will read into the night until 4:00am. Crazy. That’s why I don’t take out very many novels especailly right now.
    talk to you later.

  16. cycleguy says:

    Linda: for clarification. While I am cycleguy my real name is Bill. Jeff was referring to that. Some may find this hard to believe but I have never had a drink of any alcoholic beverage or smoked or chewed any type of tobacco in my life nor had any coffee. My wife are I are alike in that. {We are Christians not Mormons just in case you are wondering). 🙂 I/we have chosen that lifestyle but realize others are different. Jeff is the one who drinks the whiskey. I suspect you just read it wrong. 🙂

    You also will be in my prayers during this time with your husband.