Our sabbatical was a great time to get away from the regular routine of life. To be "free" from my ministerial responsibilities for 30 days allowed me to take the proverbial 30,000 foot view of life and calling. The view of things from 30,000 helps to clarify the world as you know it. You see things that were once large and menacing as small and insignificant. You realize your own smallness from that vantage point as well. The other thing I realized was that there are a lot of people in this world. Everywhere we went there were people. Back in Salina, it's easy to get tunnel vision and only see what you want and ignore the rest. You realize that God has created everyone in his own image and that this life is really not about you.
Jesus came to give of himself, not to be served but to serve, to die on a cross, to pay the penalty of sin, to provide a way to God and abundant living. Jesus' life was about loving the Father, obeying him and helping others to come to know him. Jesus was about bringing glory to God and not about making it easy on himself. Jesus had none of the comforts we have today nor did he have much for his day. The joy and peace came from pleasing the Father and doing his will. It was in this sacrificial life that true life was demonstrated. Denying my selfish wants and desires and following Christ is most important.
It's really not about me but about God and Jesus and living a Christ-centered life in the power of the Holy Spirit. It's about the glory to God.
