Cancel Everything!

I have just "returned" to my office on campus and to a "regular" schedule following Christmas break.  It is one of the BEST things about being in education.  You get to take some time off during the summer, spring, and winter breaks.  Now, I would argue that it isn't like teachers and professors get to sit around and bask in doing nothing.  Believe me there is work to do, but it is a different pace and can be refreshing.  However, when the routine of office work, course work, committee work, and all the rest start again, it can be a shock to the system.  It reminds me just how busy our lives can get.

This past weekend I spoke at a conference for youth leaders and posed the question: "What if you stopped EVERYTHING you were doing and started to rebuild your schedule, your ministry, your life all over again?"  What would you do if you had permission to REBUILD what you are doing?  Would you just recreate your exact schedule?  Would you do all things that you are currently doing?  Or would you do things differently?

I asked this question in regards to what church youth leaders plan and spend their time doing in youth ministry.  But it is a fair question for all of us.  At the beginning of a new year, instead of making a few resolutions that are probably on the scrap heap of 2009 . . . why don't we ask ourselves what can we STOP DOING? 

I spent part of my break cleaning out closets and our basement.  Maybe I'm weird (okay . . . I know I'm weird), but I get a feeling of satisfaction by getting rid of the clutter and creating new space!  Before I start planning my new excercise program, practicing my new disciplines, spending more time reading, writing, and hanging out with the family (ALL THINGS I WANT TO DO MORE OF IN 2009), I need to do some house cleaning!  It may be just a mental excercise, but I'm going to CANCEL EVERYTHING . . . and start fresh!

What would your calendar look like if you did the samething?  What would your ministry look like?  There are some things that we just DO because we've always done them . . .now is the time to STOP, CLEAN IT OUT, and create SPACE to do something new!