A New Experience and REST!

I'm about to try something new this week that's leaving me with mixed emotions. For the first time ever in my nearly 16 years of marriage to Susan, I'm going on a golf vacation with a buddy and leaving my family at home. To be honest, I'm not sure what to make of the many things going through my head right now. So here are my unfiltered thoughts on this trip:

HAPPY THOUGHTS:
I love to golf and look forward to playing four days straight in beautiful Williamsburg VA.

I love hanging out with my pastor buddy from Canada that I'm going with. We haven't connected much since my move down here, so a week away taking ministry should be fun.

I love history and have never been to Williamsburg, so that should be fun.

I just got my first GPS unit (a TomTom) and can't wait to play with it.

I'm looking forward to getting away from email and phone calls for a week.

I got a super deal for four nights, b-fast, lunch and golf every day on great courses. It's less than $100 a day.

SAD THOUGHTS:
I truly hate the thought of leaving my wife for four days. She's my best friend and I love to take trips like this with her.

I truly hate the thought of leaving my kids for a week. I try to make every activity they are involved in and I'm going to miss a few this week.

I'm going to be away from my dog (actually... this one should be in the happy category!!!)

I'm going to miss the daily buzz and activity of Grace Church. There are days I crawl into bed exhausted it's true... but I love and get pumped weekly by serving at Grace. I don't like the thought of missing out on what God is doing for even a week here!

BIBLE THOUGHT:
I am learning in life to take God's call to REST seriously. This week is going to be more than just the pursuit of recreation but rather some time away to recalibrate spiritually by reflecting on where God and I have been, where we are at and where we are going.