Take Some Down Time!
One of my most interesting and gratifying part-time occupations, as a retired pastor, is the weekly engaging of truck drivers. I am employed as a workplace chaplain serving several clients in different settings. One, for example, is a national food distribution company. My job is to reach out to over-the-road professional drivers by phone in real-time each week. I do my best in these chaplain-to-driver conversations to offer them encouragement and a listening ear to their joys and concerns.
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Most of
these chats occur while the guys are driving and are usually short (3-5
minutes) in duration of necessity. However, occasionally, the calls become
longer depending on the need. Sometimes their spouses and family members are
included. I especially enjoy these because I seem to get more out of the men
when their wives are listening and participating!
During
summer months, it is common to have these workplace friends to pick up the call,
even when they are on vacation on beaches from South Padre Island in the Gulf
of Mexico to Hilton Head, North Carolina. One driver this week was enjoying
time with his family at the Iowa State Fair near his home in northeast
Illinois. During wintertime these guys will answer and even want to talk as
they are riding horses in the desert areas of Arizona!
I love it
when I try to excuse myself to get off the line in a hurry so they can enjoy
themselves with family and friends and they won’t let me go. They often delight
and surprise me by interrupting to say, “Oh no! That’s fine! I’ve got time to
talk!” And then they tell me about their experiences and what a wonderful time
they are having in getting away to enjoy some down time with their loved ones.
These drivers
deal with a lot of stress in their careers on the road and away from home
during long hauls. They have learned to get away from it all to recharge their
physical, emotional, and mental “batteries.” They know the importance of
replenishing their strength. I had a couple of drivers this week who took the
day off to get out on a river or lake with a son or grandson to fish. One
admitted, “I am a lot easier to live with if I get to go fishing once in a
while!”
According
to a study from a human resource company, “over 65% of workers experienced
burnout in 2023.” Researchers in the mental health field tell us that even a
mini vacation can help to reduce stress in our lives! These shorter times away
are cheaper and easier to negotiate professionally. They also allow us to keep
up with family and friends at home since we would only be away for a few days
at a time.
Our Lord
regularly sought out moments of rest with his disciples and often alone. He got
into a boat one time and fell fast asleep (Matthew 8:23-24). On another
occasion, after a tiring walk, he had to sit down to rest at a well in Samaria
(John 4:6). And in one of my favorite accounts, Jesus retreated with His
disciples who were tired and hungry after a challenging day of ministry to the
crowds. He said to them, “Come off by yourselves; let’s take a break and get a
little rest. For there was constant coming and going. They didn’t even have
time to eat.” (Mark 6:31-31, The Message).
As the Son
of God, Jesus knew the importance of recharging His human spirit and of refreshing
times with the Heavenly Father. If He knew when to stop and rest, shouldn’t we
practice the same work-rest rhythm in our lives? Here’s good advice for the weary
and stressed, “Take some down time!” Let’s unwind and rest so that God may restore
our souls!
Mike Keppler, retired pastor,
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I had no idea you were involved in this important and interesting ministry. Thank you for sharing this article. It just reminded me that regardless of your work or retired status everyone needs a break.
ReplyDeleteVery true. I am retired, but l watch my children work so hard with children and jobs. They try to follow your message by getting away on a motorcycle ride or retreat with their horse, but sometimes it is difficult. Thanks for the message.
ReplyDeleteGreat message, so glad you are doing this ministry. Blessings
ReplyDelete