Sorry about the no post on Wednesday and no heads up. Nancy and I took a few days away to reunite with our children and to watch the Pittsburgh Pirates play baseball in Bradenton, Florida. I needed to get away, not in the Southwest Airlines, did something stupid so I needed to get away kind of need. It was more the: I’ve been working hard, and life’s been challenging for a long time, needed to get away. I’m one of those folks who don’t tend to take time away often enough, and was reminded of that this week. In fact, by the second day I was thinking, “We ought to do this every year, and possibly for two weeks instead of one.
Bradenton in March certainly beats western Pennsylvania in March, but it’s much more than that. Being this far away from the epicenter of my daily life means I’ve been able to unplug and enjoy some re-creation. Yesterday, we all went on a Segway tour of Santa Maria Island, and it was FUN. We’ve laughed together so much this week, and one of the best parts of dinner together from when the girls were growing up took place each evening–Nancy laughing so hard she had dears streaming down her face. Back to the Segway tour, the view was amazing and the experience was so different from anything I normally do that it was a great deal of fun.
I’ve been “running” each morning we’ve been here, which is something I’ve been thinking about doing at home, but the weather here is so much more conducive to it at this time of year. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was actually able to run. I’ve spent the winter on my “Spintmaster,” which is an inexpensive combination of a treadmill and an elliptical machine. That’s helped me stay in shape, but I wasn’t sure whether the old body would take running for real. It has. The one aspect of running/ walking I’ve always enjoyed is it gives me truly uninterrupted time for thinking and praying. The second morning I ran over to the beach, and then ran along the beach, so the view was incredible. I’m always reminded of God when I see the vastness of the water stretching out in front of me. Even though the sun came up to the east of the water, because we’re on the west coast of Florida, it was still an amazing view.
What does all this have to do with leadership? More than you and I might think. We all “know” we need rest and time away in order to function at our best as leaders, but much of the leadership culture in America still tells us that rest and down time are luxuries the best leaders can’t afford. Each of us has to decide whether we believe that or whether we believe rest and restoration time are essential to long-term, sustained leadership. Maybe it’s because I’m nearing my 60th birthday, or maybe it’s because I’m getting wiser, but I’m siding with the group espousing the need for rest and restoration. While the break has only been four days so far, I feel ready to get back to leading at New Life, and am sure my leadership will be more effective.
So, what’s your position on rest and restoration? Do you get enough sleep each night? Do you take a “Sabbath” or a day of rest each week? Do you take regular times away form restoration and renewal? These are vital questions. The younger you are the more you need to ask these questions and determine what you’re going to do about your own need for rest, renewal and re-creation. Hindsight is 20-20, as they say, but I would have been much better served as a person, and the people I’ve led would have been much better served as a leader had I taken rest, renewal and restoration more seriously. I hope you’ll take some time today to consider how you’re doing in these areas, and if you’re operating at a deficit to make a plan to get away.
Here’s to leading better by taking time to get away–today (or very soon)!