How Five Churches are Celebrating Easter

Easter weekend is finally here, full of the many ways in which Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus.  A quick walk around the internet shows off the variety of worship practices. With thousands of churches to choose from, here are just a few, from large and small to Catholic and Protestant:

However you celebrate Easter, let it move you. Take the time to get there early.  Do some reading in advance so that you know what's coming.  Find a decent parking spot.  Smile at the people sitting near you.  Wish someone a Happy Easter.  Pray for someone who looks down.

May the Lord bless your life and that of your family in such a way that your heart leans more fully into the heart of God.

See You in a Few Weeks

As I often do, I'll be taking a break from blogging for a few weeks.  As Lent is a great time of year to enter more deeply into the mystery of faith and the hope of Easter, I'm stepping back to spend more time in prayer and reflection.

See you in a few weeks!

Why Every Leader Needs Solitude

I don't know about you but my schedule has, of late, featured a lot of meetings.  Budget meetings.  Personnel meetings.  Strategy and planning.

Before you know it, you can be left scratching your head and wondering if you'll ever be able to get any real work done.  This sentiment is really a symptom of someone who craves more solitude.  They know that meetings are work but too many of them can leave you with a bad taste in your mouth.

Jason Fried of 37 Signals has written about the problem of too many meetings. (see "Why You Can't Work at Work") It's no wonder that people feel so negatively about work- they can't seem to get work done when they're at it.  All of the stopping and starting creates a pace that is unsustainable for focused work.

Solitude, now that's what most workplaces could use more of.  I was reminded of this tonight as I visited our parish chapel for First Friday devotions.  For Catholics, First Friday is a chance for 24 hours of prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament.  My time slot is 6-7pm and I get a call from someone in the church a few days before just to remind me.  It's become like an anchor for my month.

I see the same people each month for the hour that I'm there.  It's quiet.  I spend some time writing in my journal and do some spiritual reading.  The solitude is almost refreshing and is a stark contrast from the frenetic pace of meetings during the week.

Leaders need moments like these and I don't mean the ones only who have fancy titles.  Ask any mom and they'll tell you that a peaceful afternoon break is worth its weight in gold.  Solitude is so valuable that once you build it into your schedule, all of the meetings and interruptions will seem like speedbumps.

The meetings will never be completely eliminated but a lifestyle that includes solitude can transform even the most ordinary work schedule.

So, how much solitude are you getting each week?

Four Easy Steps to Getting the Rest You Want

You've got the kind of job that is asking more of you than ever before.  Your work hours are expanding as the economy is shrinking.  At the end of the day, you have zero energy left for those you love. Did I mention that your email inbox hasn't been at zero for weeks and you have to repeat the whole thing tomorrow?

The problem isn't your job or your work hours.

The problem may be how little you are at rest.  Without rest, the grind of work can swallow your passion and destroy your health.  So how can you build points of renewal during the day?  Here are my four easy steps that work every time:

  1. Start your day on your terms. By getting to sleep at a reasonable time, the following day can be successful or at least the start of it can be.  There is nothing better than waking up without a feeling of dread and tiredness.

  2. Reclaim your lunch hour. It's essential to get away from your work and reclaim some time to recharge your body.  Step away from the desk, get some air and be alone for 15-30 minutes.

  3. Take breaks every 90 minutes. Switch gears, pull your eyes away and step away from the keyboard.

  4. Know when to stop. Just go home and be with those you love.  Unless you're negotiating a peace deal between two countries, it's probably okay to leave it for tomorrow.


So there they are- the four easy steps to reclaiming the lost art of resting.  Just as periods of work are deeply spiritual, so too are the moments of rest in between.

*photo by oddsock

Tips for a Cool Vacation ... at Home

Since the economy went south more and more people have skipped the expensive trip and opted to stay at home.  It's easy on the wallet and often good for the soul.  It taps into that concept of sabbath which is too-often ignored, even by the Church.

A wonderful quote on sabbath is from Dorothy Bass:

"Sabbath keeping is not about taking a day off but about
being recalled to our knowledge of and gratitude for God's activity in creating
the world, giving liberty to captives, and overcoming the powers of death."


That's heavy stuff and even though I have my Master's in theology, I'm so practical that I look for what makes for a good staycation.  The fact that it is also good for my soul is added benefit!

So what makes for a good week at home?  I can tell you that for years I had no idea and as a result spent the week putzing around and not enjoying myself.  By the time I would get back to work, I was almost relieved to be done with vacation.  Sad but true.

Now, I try to put a few things in place which seem to work well for a weeklong staycation:

  1. Announce that it's still a real vacation. Colleagues at work can too easily think, "Oh, he's just at home this week, we can call him."  I'm always available for emergencies but don't really want to be interrupted by folks from work when I'm off, even if I'm at home.

  2. Put some anchors in the ground. Try to plan out 1-2 small but meaningful excursions that will put an anchor in your week.  A day trip is perfect for this.

  3. Limit your media. I take a total media unplug (see: What I Learned from a Two Week Media Fast) once or twice a year but during a staycation, I tend to keep plugged in to Twitter (are you following me yet?) and some blogs.  Just lay out an agreement with yourself and then follow it during the week.

  4. Be ok with small wins. If your goal for a staycation is to read all day on Monday and go grab a smoothie on Tuesday with a friend, great.  There are no set rules except those that you draw up with yourself.  Small wins (see Perfecting the Porch Sit) are perfectly cool during a staycation.  Be attentive to small things and remember that the point is still to recharge your batteries.


*photo by zwww

What I Learned from a Two Week Digital Fast

Prior to Easter, I was feeling a bit strained so I decided to "go dark" (in software developer's language) and go offline for a few weeks.  I figured that with Holy Week and then a vacation with my family, it was the perfect time to hit the pause button and unplug.

Little did I know that I would enjoy it so much.

With Twitter, email, voicemail and weekly blog posts, it's safe to say that I'm pretty well connected.  Here are some things I learned as I now gradually ease back into digital life:


  1. It's not that difficult. You just do it, plain and simple.  For those who feel they can't, try it.  You may be surprised.

  2. It's helpful to tell folks that you're going offline. My blog post from March 29 explained to readers that I was shutting things down in order to reconnect with the Lord and my family.  Those are hard to argue with and friends were very supportive.

  3. You enjoy time with family and friends more. When you're not worried about Twitter or email, time is freed up to have quality time with those you love.

  4. You're not fully out of reach for emergencies. With my role at work, I can't afford to be 100% out of reach so some folks know how to get hold of me.  That's just how it has to be in the digital world and it's ok.  No one abused the sabbatical by calling me every twenty minutes to see how things were going.

  5. You learn more deeply about the importance of sabbatical. Honoring sabbath is still a relevant concept and makes a whole lot of sense.

  6. It's good to gradually enter back into the fold. Like all fasts, it's good to ease back into things.  I chose Twitter as this means and started posting items last week.


So how do I feel now that I'm back online?  More energetic, more ready to tackle the challenges of life.  More connected with God and family.

If you're feeling overwhelmed or tired, why not try a digital fast for a week or two?

*Photo by totojaunjo