As a hospital chaplain, during orientation I have the opportunity to introduce the role of a chaplain, ways we can collaborate to support patients and families and encourage them to be intentional in finding ways to recharge. What draws many to a career in healthcare is their compassion and desire to help others. People who find fulfillment in caring for others can find it hard to care for themselves. Even though it is their first week starting a new job, I encourage these new employees that one way to prioritize self-care is to plan purposeful time off. If you are anything like me, the moment you book a vacation, even if it’s a year away, there is an excitement that begins in my spirit, anticipating the day I get to travel.
This reminds me of my childhood when we would count down the days to our summer break. Anything was better than the grind of early mornings, classrooms, and endless assignments and tests (the school system in Singapore, where I grew up, was rigorous to say the least). Oh, the joy of playing in the garden, cycling around the neighborhood, and swimming in the pool felt so enticing; it couldn’t get here soon enough. To top it off, for a week in June, my dad would take our family on his yacht up the Malaysian coast for more slow days of snorkeling, diving, fishing, and rock scrambling. We couldn’t wait!
As an adult now, it’s a little different. Being privileged to enjoy the work I do, I don’t feel the same need to break away. However, I know time away to refresh and relax is good for the body, mind, and soul. When I book my air tickets, the delight is palpable, and the anticipation is almost as sweet as the vacation itself
Turning our hearts away from the routine of school and work to look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus can be enlivening and delightful. It lets us relive those feelings of anticipation for days of goodness and beauty with family that we love. First Peter 1:8-9 tells us, “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
As much as I preach self-care to my coworkers at the hospital, I think it’s a misnomer. Sure, there are ways we need to care for ourselves, but the only way our whole being can be replenished is with power from on high. Only in the presence of God can we feel truly seen, heard, and loved. To find that place of security in our Lord Jesus is to find truly indescribable joy.
