Refresh/Reboot/Restore

These 3 words kept popping in my mind today while I was riding.

Have any of you ever had to reboot or refresh your computer or cell phone in order to get it to work properly or complete its updates? Have you ever delayed doing it for fear of losing something if it didn’t work correctly?

Today before riding I had to refresh my thoughts about riding gear due to the fact we finally got some cooler Fall weather. I knew I was going to need to wear my leather jacket and full finger gloves in order to be warm enough. This was a very welcome change but I’ll admit I was a bit apprehensive about the jacket. I bought it last year and it was a little tighter than I like when I got it, but I bought it from someone across the country and therefore was not able to try it on prior to purchasing. As I got ready today I was pleasantly surprised when it actually fit better than when I purchased it. Sometimes we dread the “what ifs” and may miss out on something good because of it. What if I had been so hesitant about the jacket than I didn’t even try it on? (I probably would have been discouraged and cold.)

Sometimes like our technological items, we need to refresh, reboot, and/or restore our thinking and/or our actions. As I was riding today and earlier this week I found myself thinking about last weekend. My hubby and I used to “get away” pretty regularly but in the past few years that’s changed due to various reasons. This past weekend we did get away, however, for the first time in over a year and it was for longer than our usual 1 or 2 nights we used to do, it was for 3 nights. We stayed in a very remote location in a cabin that was so quiet, peaceful, cooler and totally refreshing. We didn’t do a bunch of activities like some do when they take a vacation, we just enjoyed time away and alone trying to just relax. It was a time to refresh. The area we were in was not heavily populated, had many dirt roads, beautiful sunsets, and things just seemed more laid back. It took us some time to unwind from the usual pace and thoughts of life and by the time we needed to leave to head home, we really just wanted to stay longer. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible, but it didn’t stop us from taking our time heading home by taking back roads and continuing to enjoy the wonderful country mountain scenery and each other’s company.

Too often I find, at least for myself, that I get into the daily routines of life and don’t take enough time to restore and reboot myself. I get in my rides which definitely help, but sometimes it needs to be more. The weekend away was something we both needed.

Why do we often think that we can just go and go and never need to stop and rest? Many times when people do withdraw and take time for themselves and to be alone, others say they are anti-social or selfish or any number of other adjectives. If Jesus who never sinned needed to take time to be alone to rest, to pray, to make decisions, to deal with grief and life’s demands, then why shouldn’t we?!

Luke 5:16

So He Himself often withdrew to the wilderness and prayed.

Mark 1:35

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.

Matthew 14:23

After He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on a mountain by himself to pray. And when evening had come, He was alone there.

This was one of the beautiful sunsets we enjoyed on our getaway. God’s artwork is the best. It’s easy to see why Jesus often went up on a mountain to pray.