photo credit - John Cremons
My Gethsemane isn’t the one across the valley from the Old City in Jerusalem (although I can picture it in my mind’s eye as I reflect back on a trip to Israel two years ago). Mine is in Trappist, Kentucky, in the hills about a half hour’s drive from Louisville.
When we think of stewardship, we tend to gravitate to financial thoughts. And as we think those thoughts, we tend to think about giving, investing, and spending in a way that pleases the Lord.
But do we consider some of those same elements as it relates to our time?
I have been wrestling with that question in recent years. As a husband, father of four (ages 2 to 14), worker, active church member, etc., there are always things pulling for my time. And if I’m not careful, I just become a task-accomplishing robot that isn’t living out the unique identity that God has built into me.
That’s when I head for Gethsemane… Kentucky, that is.
For the past three years, I’ve taken a four-day silent retreat at the Abbey of Gethsemane monastery in Trappist, KY (www.monks.org – I love that web address!). While my Protestant theology may not align with the monks in every way, I have drawn great value from their hospitality and these days each year to quiet myself, read, pray, take walks in the woods, and simply allow the Lord to speak to me. My life is a very noisy one (you should join me at my dinner table sometime!), so this time of silence is always very eye-opening.
With our finances, we all see the value of investing so there is a return that can be spent. I’m starting to realize that as it relates to my time, I’m often “spending” without “investing.” And as in finances, this approach will eventually lead to some form of personal “bankruptcy”… or perhaps even a “crash.”
Do you have any “investment” tools that are allowing you to replenish your heart/soul so you have something in your “account” to spend? If so, let me know—I’m always looking for ideas!
Rich Dundore
Keynote, Director of Development
