Recovery Time

We listened to Bill Hybels (Sr. Pastor, Willow Creek) yesterday morning during our impact Group. He was talking with a panel about fitness, both athletic and in business. He made a point that instantly hit home with me; all great athletes know they must plan time for recovery. For Bill, this is a sprint – rest cycle, (if you know our café manager Val, you will know what this looks like!! ) I instinctively know this is true. I am an endurance sport person; in the army I ran marathons, I now enjoy century bike rides (100 miles) and longer. This is the way God made me; I’m not a sprinter. But, I know after a long activity I NEED to come down and recover.

Work is the same; I am an endurance sport worker. I like getting in the groove and pushing as long and hard as I can. I actually like exhaustion; it makes me feel like I did something. The problem is that exhaustion is Gods way of saying “it’s time to rest” and I have been ignoring him. Just like exercise without recovery destroys your body, work / ministry without recovery will destroy your soul.

I have been on a 20 day mega marathon (I say mega because a normal marathon is 6 days with one day of rest – for me); it’s time for recovery. I am going to play with the kids today, get out for a bike ride and read a book. Tomorrow may look very similar. Saturday I am going rafting (*I guide on the Hudson River Gorge). This may sound like work to you, but this is true recovery for me; I LOVE being outside, in the cold water and with new people (yes, I am an extravert!) By Sunday, I expect I will be hungry for work again! Recovery is good; I hope you also know how to recover.