Take A Time Out

“Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. (Mark 6:31)
 
Life is a lot like sports, and there are so many principles we can take away from watching and playing sports. For instance, in a game of basketball, when the game is getting away from you, when the opponent is running up the score, and it seems as if things are getting out of hand, a good coach or a good player knows when it’s time to take a time out. Some of the most memorable games in sports history occurred when players didn’t know when to call a time out.  
 
Similarly, there are times in our lives when we need to know when and how to call a time out. In our culture of overworking and boasting in how busy we are, Jesus tells us that He wants to help us to find peace, balance, and harmony. Two thousand years ago, Jesus did that by pulling away from the crowds and the disciples, but today I think he would say we can find rest by pulling away from our cell phones and computers every now and then.  
 
It’s okay for us to stop being so connected to email, text messages and social media. Find time to unplug so you can spend time with yourself, with your family, and with God in prayer. That’s not a selfish thing to do. I would argue it’s a necessary thing to do.
 
Some people don’t make time for self-care because they think it’s being selfish. But caring for the self is not selfish. If you don’t take care of yourself, no one else will. Self-care is sacred. It’s why when flying they say in the event of an emergency put the oxygen mask on yourself before you put it on someone else.
 
What do you need to take a timeout from? Whether it’s busyness, technology, or work, draw the line in the sand and take some time to care for yourself. Remember, we are to love others the way we love ourselves. But if we don’t love and care for ourselves, we can’t love and care for other people in the way we should.