Jimbo's Jots

It’s been a while since I’ve written purposefully. It gave me a break from the “what am I going to say this week?” and the “do I really have anything to say?” For some, writing and the art of writing is effortless. It appears as if the words are flowing out of their minds and into the pens (or computers) like a gentle stream or for some, like a waterfall. Others, and I feel I fall in to this category sometimes, I feel like my days to write are like a clogged pipe needing a little Roto Rooter clean out.

So, I took a step back from writing. There are several reasons for this. Through the months of July and August, we do a fund campaign to purchase school supplies for children that would need a good start to the school year. After all, who doesn’t just pick up a box of crayons and just take a good sniff of them. Who doesn’t like the sharpening of a brand new pencil? Or opening up a box of brand new markers to draw and color that next refrigerator masterpiece?

The step back also gives me time to do some self reflection as well. Over the past several months, my family has been experiencing massive transitions. We moved my brother and a sister to Michigan. My grandson was born in late May. My granddaughter had her last open heart surgery (hopefully). My college daughter signed up to be a trainer for leader dogs – so we’ve had a puppy in the house. And there’s ministry opportunities as well. Not complaining – just saying.

In Mark’s account of Jesus’ life, he shares a “day in the life of Jesus” from chapter 5-7. Here’s what happens: Jesus heals a demon possessed man, he heals a woman and a daughter of a Roman official, he gets rejected by people in his own hometown, he hears about the death of John, and he feeds 5000. Read what he does in Mark 6:46, “After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.” Jesus took a step back! He needed that time to refresh. He needed that time with God.

Maybe you need a step back! It gives you a chance to slow down from the chaos of life! There is something to be said about “retreat”!

And when you return, you’ll feel blessed and then be a blessing to others!