Great Escapes

My ministry enables me to preach at churches, work with pastors and leaders, lead men’s groups, do podcasts and write, all of which I find fulfilling. Yet, sometimes I need a break from ministry so I can recoup my strength and get a fresh perspective. The best breaks for me are experiences that stimulate my mind and immerse me in new environments.

When I’m preaching, the Holy Spirit sometimes gives me words and ideas I never previously considered. I don’t feel hungry, sick or tired in the pulpit, even though I may have felt badly sitting in the pew minutes before speaking.

Adrenaline is released when I preach, and also when I’m competing. I was playing golf on a recent afternoon with my friend Ed. We had a competition going, which Ed was leading. There was nobody ahead of us on the course, so we moved quickly from hole to hole. At one point we realized the temperature was 109 degrees, but the heat was not bothering either of us.

Time awareness can be affected by intense activity. I normally can guess the time within a few minutes without checking a clock. However, my best escapes get me so focused that I forget the time. This often happens when I’m fly fishing.

I enjoy fly fishing in mountain streams where every bend in the stream provides new riffles and pools where trout are lurking. Casting a fly into the current and watching a trout strike it on the surface is exciting.

For avid fishermen, the strike of a biting fish is addictive. Feeling your line tighten and your rod bend down as a fish takes the bait gives a rush we like to experience again and again. It doesn’t matter what time we planned to meet back at the truck, because there is no way my fishing partner or me wants to stop fishing when they are biting.

If you battle a trout and scoop it into your net, it’s usually easy to release the fly from its mouth and place it back into the stream where it lives to fight another day. I bless the fish I release and ask the Lord to help them grow strong and have many offspring.

I was playing chess online one evening with a player from another state. Twice I was ahead in our games and moving into position for a checkmate when I suddenly lost the game because my time ran out. I was so engrossed in my attacks that I had forgotten we were playing fifteen minutes games. Once your time clock expires, your opponent wins, regardless of your position on the board.

Winston Churchill was often up most of the night in British war rooms meeting with generals during WWII. They would review their troop deployments, discuss strategy and plan their attacks on large boards which marked out the battlefields of Europe. As daylight approached, the generals put their plans into action and Churchill went to bed.

Every couple of weeks Churchill would retreat from London and go to Chartwell where he owned a country estate. He still did military planning from his estate, but he went there to get refreshed. At Chartwell, Churchill painted landscapes and built extensive rock walls in his garden. He said the best way for him to unwind was to immerse himself in activities that engaged his mind in a completely new endeavor.

In high school, I loved to ski in the Serra Nevada mountains. My friends and I would drive to Lake Tahoe on Friday after school. Saturday and Sunday we would ski at Alpine, Squaw Valley or Sugar Bowl. In those days, skis were long and difficult to turn. My friends liked to ski Black Diamonds, which are steep downhill runs where failure to navigate turns through deep moguls had serious consequences.

I was never a great skier. I had to pay close attention to keep from serious injury. Skiing in majestic mountains surrounded by trees draped in snow was a great escape. A weekend in snow-filled mountains or snorkeling along a reef with colorful fish can refresh your soul because you experience the beauty of God’s creation up close.

I find the same dynamic when I boogie board on large waves. It requires concentration to catch a wave without getting overwhelmed by the power of the water crashing towards the beach. Riding a wave is similar to skiing or catching a fish. God has put these things in nature that can feed us or propel us forward as they lift us into another dimension.

Regarding other dimensions, I’ve had dreams recently where I’ve seen people I love who have died. I was wondering what God is saying to me through these dreams. I mentioned this to my friend Mel, and he suggested Hebrews 12:1 to me, “We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses…”

These witnesses, who have gone to heaven, testify to the Lord’s love and faithfulness. They shout to us in the Spirit to make the most of our lives because our time on earth will soon be over and we will be joining them in heaven.

I’m thankful for the adventures the Lord gives me so I can be refreshed. A balance of intense ministry and great escapes helps me enjoy life. I’m most effective when I have joy in my heart. I like to compete and catch fish, but I have no greater joy than being a fisher of men. I hope to continue to preach the word of God and make disciples for years to come.

When I give a gift to someone, I want them to enjoy it. This world filled with wonders is a gift to us from our Father in Heaven. He wants us to experience his love in the land of the living. God is delighted when we enjoy the majesty of his creation and serve him and his people with all our heart.