I’m honored to join my wife this October as we write about Rest & Risk together.
She is an amazing wife, mom, artist, and writer. She is the glue for our family. I hope not to disappoint all her faithful followers with my crazy banter. I hope to make her proud.
I get to write the first few posts that will begin to tell the story of our past year.
A year we are calling… “The Year of Rest.”
Almost one year ago to the day, I resigned from my job at a church in Huntersville, NC. Why? The primary reason — differences with senior leadership of the church… but since this is a “family friendly blog”, I’ll leave that story for another time.
But there was another reason… one that had been “growing” for sometime.
We were becoming unhealthy. We had allowed my job, our four children, our church, and social pressures dictate our calendar and lifestyle… resulting in what we call…
“slight to moderate chaos”. Maybe you struggle with this diagnosis too?
It seems like there is so much to do: earn a living, fulfill a vocation, nurture your marriage, raise good kids, develop great relationships, get some exercise, clean the house, mow the yard, volunteer in your community, go to church, etc… and all the while we hope to maintain sanity and keep growing as faithful and loving people.
What are we to do? Society, as well as the church, has tried to provide some answers, but they just seem to be so empty. Our circumstances require a strong response, and we are too caught up in the swirl of our lives to come up with one.
Caroline and I don’t have all the answers for every person, family, and situation. We have many friends that want their lives to be different… sadly however, they refuse to take bold moves in a different direction. But understand these three things…
* We are living in an economy and society that demands too much from people.
* We are finite. Time is too short.
* If nothing changes, nothing changes.
If we don’t change our current circumstances, we not only remain in the same “rut”…
we will slowly dig that “rut” a little deeper every day, week, month, and year…
and we won’t even realize it.
Therefore, we made a few bold moves… and they are paying off.
After I resigned, we moved our family of six to Chicago, and started our “year of rest”….
and it’s been amazing!
Tomorrow ~ I’ll share the first thing we did for our “year of rest”. It might surprise you.
see ya then,
~ Greg
{This is a series of posts for 31 Days of Rest & Risk. To read the other posts, click here.}
I struggle with that diagnosis for sure. Can’t wait to hear what rest looks like for ideas to conquer my busy sickness. Thanks for sharing.
You may enjoy another blog…. 31 Days of Margin. Similar ideas and concepts… I’m reading it.
http://thestanleyclan.blogspot.com/2012/10/margin-defined-day-2.html
G & C, SO looking forward to your series. Thank you. Thank you for writing it and being intentional.
Nester recently posted..31 Days :: What’s The Purpose?
Ok I am going to love this. I am right there with you guys. I feel very alone most days in my thinking that there is just tooooooooo much. Too much of everything. I want, neeeeeed to simplify. Just the other day I took some heat for not signing my son up for cubscouts. Just one night for one hour was the comment. But it’s not just one night for an hour. It’s another night away from the family, another night not sitting together for dinner, another night of us going our seperate ways. I have started saying no a lot more lately. It’s not a popular word but boy does it make me and my family much happier!
Angela
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Miss you. We remember you everyday with your lovely art that is hanging in our kitchen. Love ya.
hi, greg! i’ve never met you but i sure do love your wife.
thank you for this post, especially the freedom to embrace rest and debunk busyness.
ellen recently posted..day two: my story, the healing part.
Ellen, I hope to meet you one day. Caroline is a pretty cool lady. I’m super lucky she picked me to do life with. If you’re ever close to Chicago, let us know
I love me some CT and can’t wait to get in on some GT wisdom and get to know you too.
We are a family that demands rest and we are always the weirdos for making it so, but I like it that way. Our kids are still little and we can dictate their schedules. I hope to learn a little here to prepare for the season when their schedules aren’t so much our own.
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Tracey, we hope you can learn a little something from our 31 Days of Rest and Risk. We’re just going to tell stories. Our stories… and hopefully inspire a few.
Stop by Chicago on your way to your next adventure.
Greg
I definitely struggle with the dangers of an overscheduled life, too! It’s so easy to fall prey to a to-do list…so I look forward to reading about some practical ways that you and your family “maintain sanity and keep growing as faithful and loving people” in the midst of it all
Continue to be bold!
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Thanks for reading. We’ll share our story and hope it can inspire a few to be bold… take a few risks… and learn to rest.
Ahhhh…rest. The idea of it makes me smile. Right now it feels like a dream, an unreality. I will enjoy getting to hear from both you and Caroline, you both offer such a graceful balance. Miss you!
Miss you Maria. Bring your book tour to Chicago!
Greg,
Hearing from you (and Caroline) on a daily basis is going to be like summer intern devotions…Utmost and George Mueller! I am so excited! Love you!
You would think cancer would have taught me to slow down, and it did for the year. But I am back to being lured into the chaos. Looking forward to much wisdom from the GT/CT team!
Love you KayBrayHam! You have inspired many with your faith. We look forward to gleaning truth and inspiration from you this month as well.
loving this series so far. I’m glad you all made this decision – I know it was the best thing your your family and I’m so very happy it’s paying off. I’m also so honored to have gotten to spend so much time with you the last few months – I just wish it had been longer. Miss you guys weekly, if not daily!
Like Kara said, I’m glad I’ll get to hear from you everyday:)
Reeve. Miss you dearly. It was our honor to be loved by you. Hope your trip to Chicago happens soon
Beautiful truth! Looking forward to this series!
Elise recently posted..Day 4:: Saying No