I feel like I’m about to sound like an old grandma, rocking in a rocking chair and clicking her false teeth when I say when I’m about to say….but it is the truth. When I left for the missionfield at the age of 21,  technology was still in the dark ages. The common way to get ahold of someone in those days was still a landline phone, and no one had so much as an email address.

In the past 25 years, we’ve taken giant steps forward with iphones, Facebook uniting the entire world, and then came messaging apps.  In Spain, the most popular texting app is “Whatsapp” where you can message individuals or set up groups, where everyone on the church worship team, for example, can be in constant contact. 

Yes, CONSTANT CONTACT.  All hours of the day and night.  Inside jokes, memes, photos, emojis, devotional thoughts and other scriptural encouragements, and buried in there somewhere, are usually announcements or important information I need to know. This has HUGE implications in ministry.  Living in a world where you have instant communication builds an expectation of instant response.  Someone can text you for prayer, for advice, for a decision and ministry never stops. 

But it comes at a cost sometimes, and “rest” is lost.  “Sabbath” is affected.  My own sense of peace and joy takes the hit. 

So this year, the FIRST thing I’m doing is rest.  

I’m going “off the grid” for a week.  Oh, I’ll still use my technology—I’ve got a thousand books on my library app, and I’m ready to read and relax.  I’ll still text my loved ones.  But…I won’t be working.  I won’t be responding.  Please don’t be offended if you’re one of the people waiting for a response.  I’ll be back at work soon enough, but until then, “Hasta luego.”