The Importance of Self-Care and Friends During GC 2012

I am ecstatic; a friend of mine is coming to visit me in Tampa as General Conference moves into the weekend. It got me to thinking, what does the Lord require of us? I’m not asking for the Micah 6:8 answer, I’m asking for an answer that burns deep within us. What does it mean to leave everything behind for two weeks and do the work of the church?

That reminded me of one of my mother’s favorite hymns,“Lord, you have come to the lakeshore looking neither for wealthy nor wise ones. You only asked me to follow humbly. O Lord, with your eyes you have searched me, kindly smiling, have spoken my name. Now my boat’s left on the shoreline behind me; by your side I will seek other seas.”Friends we come to this place leaving behind our livelihoods for the livelihoods of the Gospel. We leave behind friends, family, loved ones for the sake of the greater good of the church. What we leave behind is whom we take to conference with us in respect to who we are called to represent.

Tonight as we prayed for healing, I prayed for the healing of friendships, family relationships and the likes, because as this time goes on during this period, our personal lives might have a toll taken on them by our time here. We tend to the work of the church, who tends to the work of our lives?

My challenge to you this week, continue to work out the issues of the church, but if opportunity presents itself, take a holy Sabbath. Use your time as worship and experience the refreshing waters of the Spirit.

When we leave our friends, families and churches behind from our respective parts of the world, we bring them with us in spirit, in a holy, sacred fire deep within us. So also as you work late into the night, remember that their prayers and support gird you with strength, hope and love. Remember your friends, and with that you can say, thanks be to God.