I opened my laptop to write in our local cafe, only to discover that I let the power run out. Thankfully, I remembered my charger and I am now tethered to the wall. Surrounded by technology, it is hard to miss the importance of recharging.

In our home, there are numerous devices that require charging. Computers, tablets, phones, electric razors, and more, become decorations, or clutter, without charging the battery. There is even a drawer in our kitchen dedicated to all of our charging cables and wall adapters. Keeping our devices ready to use is now just a way of life.

In the midst of ensuring power for all of our digital devices, we can forget that we also need to recharge. We cannot keep running effectively without taking time to renew ourselves. How can we obsessively remember to charge phones and computers while simultaneously ignoring the need to care for ourselves? We are not made to run on empty, and it should not require complete depletion before we stop to recharge the energy of our bodies, minds, and spirits.

I realized this morning I have not written anything creative in a month. I love creative writing, but several weeks ago I found myself staring at a blank page, with no idea what to do next. My creative bank account was empty, possibly overdrawn. Just like our financial bank accounts, there is only one solution when that happens, start making deposits.

Since the words were not flowing, I turned my attention to art. I wanted to improve my watercolor painting, and began looking for a class, or a challenge, to get me started again. There were many choices, but one stood out. Inspired, and terrified, I made the commitment to a 1000 day, watercolor art challenge. Yes, there were shorter challenges, but with this choice, I committed to making a daily deposit in my creative bank account for around two-and-a-half years. Thirty days later, my art is better, I feel like writing again, and I have a myriad of ideas for ministry.

We cannot be effective if we fail to care for what matters most. The Gospels tell us in numerous ways that Jesus often retreated to pray and renew himself. Just think of the stories of him spending time with his friends, praying alone on the hillside, enjoying time on the water with his disciples, and even making time for retreats. If the Son of God made regular time to recharge, how can we imagine that we will not need the same thing? If Jesus made it a priority, could it be that it should be our priority as well?

In upcoming posts, we will look at some things that drain us, and, more importantly, how we can recharge. For now, it is good to be back with you, and I look forward to sharing a Spirit- filled, creative journey with you.