And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11)
For many, the summer can prove busier than the school year. Even in our “play,” we can tend to be people who plan and program our time, thus stretching ourselves thin rather than building ourselves up. As August arrives and we return to our fall schedules, it is tempting to let go of self-care and personal growth in order to accomplish more before summer comes to an end. Yet what if less is truly more? What if in prioritizing a healthy love of self we could be empowered to love others better? We have to pick and choose what we need to really do most, but when we often put our needs last, that can just lead to burnout.
I remember when I was young, I pulled long hours at work and volunteered for more hours to help supplement my pay. That seemed reasonable at the time, but important relationships, exercise, meals and my spiritual life suffered. I found myself always busy and yet in many ways isolated. I approached my life with cynicism rather than joy. As one would expect, I hit a kind of bottom that convinced me I needed to repent.
In reorienting my life through daily spiritual practices, worship in community, and other self-care habits, I admit that it at first seemed like a bother. Yet soon, I noticed benefits. My attitude improved. I slept better and had less anxiety. I found deeper friendships and thus a more meaningful life. In making time for communal Bible study and continuing education for self-improvement, my zest for life increased. Even at work, my supervisor noted that I was working more efficiently in less time, and he experienced me as a more pleasant and peaceful person.
As the fall arrives, you will be invited to many events including church related activities. I’m not suggesting that you need to be at our congregation every time the doors are open, yet I would challenge you to discern what is best for you and your family. Self-care including that of your spiritual life needs to be an intentional priority, or you will be missing out on the abundant life Jesus promises. I encourage you to change things up and try something new as offered by Christ Lutheran, the Virginia Synod, or other faith groups in our area. Find a retreat, take a new class, or sign-up for a spiritual director from the ecumenical community at Richmond Hill or another community of your choice. Volunteer for a cause you feel passionate about. Better yet, invite a friend to join you. If you don’t know where to start, Pastor Anne or I will be happy to help you choose.
We are commanded by God to love our neighbor as ourselves, not better than ourselves. As human beings, our bodies are geared toward survival and achievement. Our God wishes us much, much more. Cultivating self-care can help us on our way.
Originally published in the August 2021 newsletter of Christ Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, VA.
Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations for this post are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) translation.
© 2021 The Rev. Louis Florio. All content not held under another’s copyright may not be used without permission of the author.
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