A vacation that takes you away from it all is a wonderful salve for many wounds. Both physical distance and time apart are helpful healing opportunities for body and soul.

Many of us have had a chance this summer to take vacation, and that often helps us begin the fall program season with renewed energy and insight. But, once we re-immerse ourselves in the work to be done... oh how quickly and easily we shed the gift of peaceful centeredness that came while we were on vacation. Without taking the opportunity to step away on a regular basis we are likely to get caught up in the whirlwind again. Before we know it, we are yearning for rest and the kind of wise perspective we enjoy only when life is balanced.

 

It is possible to step away from it all, even if there is no vacation time looming on the horizon. That might mean disciplined commitment to taking a weekly day off, or scheduling a personal retreat. But sometimes it simply means finding a way to intentionally step away even if for only a moment. Stepping away can mean escaping to an out of the way corner of your building and saying a centering prayer, or retreating to your car in the parking lot for a brief time-out. It can mean a focused breath prayer in the middle of a meeting, or taking a walk down the hall at lunchtime.