FredMcKinnon.Com

In a word (or two)- “day off.” I have been diligent throughout my 26-year music ministry in guarding my day off during the week. I also unashamedly use each of my allotted vacation days to get away from the daily grind.

In my particular situation, the likelihood of being granted an actual sabbatical is very remote, so I have to take mini sabbaticals on a regular basis, whether an occasional golf game, hunting trip, or get-away day. And I NEVER apologize for taking these days for myself and my family.

For several years now, I begin each day with the same prayer: “Lord, please help me remember that there’s NOTHING that can happen today that You and I cannot handle together”. I give each day to God, trusting that whatever comes my way, I’m not alone. To me prayer is like breathing…letting go and letting God take over my spirit, filling it with His Spirit…so as to be open to whatever Godpportunities lie just ahead.

I wish I could say that I have a rhythm to spiritual practices, but unfortunately my practices of prayer, meditation, and retreat are sporadic. Last year I scheduled a personal retreat every Monday. It worked really well and why I stopped, I’m not sure.

If I’m being completely honest, the idea of getting away in silent solitude is scary, I’m not a solitude type person, although I do like to get away in the midst of the noise of others – sounds strange, but I’m able to tune out the noise and hear God speaking clearly.

I’d love to be part of Refuge, however, travelling that many hours would be a bit counter-productive. Perhaps I could learn from others in this conversation and start something locally.

Between the blessing of running a small business, serving on a worship team and directing a equine therapy mission in our community (while attempting to love my wife and three daughters well) the enemy has plenty of opportunities to distract me from my first love….

I MUST start each day with altar time..sweet music, my bible, my journal, my pen and whatever extra reading I am doing at my sanctified old desk. This is as structured as my life gets…a couple of hours “alone” in the dark before the world starts calling so loudly. I MUST because I have learned the sure and deadly consequences in my faith walk of not doing it and the sweetness that flows from it. For me, setting the early time and sanctifying the desk as an altar where I do no other business has helped it work somewhat consistently in an otherwise goober headed life.

A turning point for me in this regard centered on my study of Richard Foster’s “Celebration of Discipline” and “Simplicity”. I recommend both with all my heart to those of you carrying such important priestly roles in the Body of Christ. I read them both each year before and during the Lenten season ’cause I need lots of reminding.

I am an un-disciplined man. I love time to myself, but when I get it, I usually “veg out” and do NOTHING. I may read, watch TV, play a video game, etc. But I usually don’t do anything I could feasibly say “I really need to . . . . ”

When I get a time to “rest”, I usually do just that. It would be a really good time to sit quietly with God and listen, but I just don’t do it.

What I DO do, however, is strive more and more on a daily basis to keep that “environment” Ruth Barton spoke of active and real in my own life.

I know what I’m about to say is “off” from what many are saying here, but I believe the environment isn’t necessarily a physical one, but a HEART one. I can name numerous passages about “fixing our eyes” on heavenly things. I think we often put ourselves in a box that says “I can’t be transformed unless I have a sabbatical”.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not knocking time alone or creating an environment alone. Here at work, I play Quiet Times in the background. I’ve asked the musician for a CD with all of them on one, but haven’t gotten it yet (jab – jab).

I am learning, though, that we can create this environment and keep it even when our bodies are wore out, we’re juggling three soccer games at one time, rushing for that appointment or practicing for the next gig.

“Come to Me all who are weak and heavy laden, and I will give you REST.”

Hope this isn’t too contradicting, bro.

I work at a church that too often seems to exalt the ‘overworker’ trait on our staff. No one brags about solitude–with family, with God, or anything else–like they brag about being up until 4am working. It’s tough internally, too, when you recognize the eternal stakes with regard to what you do… we’re working FOR God, after all. The American Church is all too often under-staffed, under-resourced and underwhelmed with gifted volunteers, but the epic story of God is no less important! So we find ourselves negotiating our time and energy with the weight of that reality on our shoulders, whether we realize it or not. Tough stuff.

Great conversation.

Love is to be our lifestyle as we live to glorify the Lord. With every opportunity where we serve and do ministry, more and more we have to view it as not a job but a privilege to be used by the Lord. When we know and fully understand it is no longer us who changes things or people, or us who do anything at all, it is then when we know that God is always in control and that He is taking care of all things for our good and His good. This, I believe, is the peace that transcends all understanding as we live our daily lives in ministry. When we hang out with people and do activities, they are all chances to be Christ to people in love just as much as it can be a break from the “doing” of ministry. (planning, etc.) At sacrifices of sleep and other things, to be wise would be to be in prayer and in worship, in communion with the Father in His presence and He will revive our hearts with holy fire and fervor for Him to move! It is just when we know this, we instead want to run and escape to be refreshed. Not to say that it’s not to be done, but too easily we want to “escape” the stress of ministry to “feel” better. Our lives are to live for Him and to ultimately love Him. He longs for our fellowship and hearts!