Taking Time
Taking Time
I love my job. It has such a wide variety of tasks and challenges, I never get bored. Frustrated, perhaps, but never bored. There are many aspects to being a religious educator that uses both the left and right sides of my brain, such as creativity, art, and music, thinking outside of the box, budgeting, organizing, relationship-building. There is the physical aspect – logging many steps and stairs on my pedometer, moving furniture and supplies, late nights and overnights. And then there is the emotional side, the times when someone is hurt, angry, sad, anxious, and they need a compassionate ear or help working out a conflict. I love my job. This reminds me of a song I like, Vacation by Dirty Heads. Take a listen here, and see if you agree. “Ay, ay aye, I’m on vacation every single day because I love my occupation!”
Well, maybe that’s not entirely true, because vacations away from work – as much as I love my job – are important. A change of pace helps to rejuvenate the body and brain. Time away from a computer is especially important these days.
My husband, Todd, and I got to spend 18 days on our first trip overseas to the United Kingdom. We crammed a lot into our time but made sure every few days was a “light” one. We met so many people, including Morgan Wood, who is currently playing Eliza Schuyler in Hamilton on Broadway, while on a Winnie-the-Pooh tour – yes, you read that correctly. We traveled to Pooh Corner for lunch and then Ashdown Forest, which became the Hundred Acre Wood in the books by A. A. Milne.
I won’t bore you with all the details of where we went and things we saw and did here, but I’d be happy to share more in person when I see you. I’m so grateful to love my occupation and job, and to have the ability to take time off for rejuvenation.
Now I am getting back into the workday routine and planning for the coming church year. But to keep the feeling of being on vacation alive, we have a couple of events coming up that you might enjoy.
This Sunday is Beach Day at Lighthouse Beach in Evanston from 12-3p. Bring a picnic lunch and your beach toys for some fun in the sun! Information on passes can be found here. In case of rain or storms, our backup date is August 10.
On August 5, join the Family Ministry Team at Sketchbook Brewing in Skokie from 6-8p. They have a wonderful beer garden as well as indoor seating with all kinds of games to entertain kids and adults. Snacks are available for purchase and you can bring your own food in.
I hope you have been able to take time this summer too, and find yourself rejuvenated for a new church year!
In Faith,
Kathy