Mark 6:30-34

In Sunday’s gospel Jesus acknowledges the pressure and demands that come from his public ministry. When the disciples returned from their first efforts away from Jesus he knew that they needed some time out to debrief, to pray and to re-energise themselves. He ordered them all into a boat and they headed for a lonely place where they could be by themselves and rejuvenate. Jesus recognised the importance of taking time out.

Fifty years ago the word ‘stress’ was only ever applied to materials like steel and the wings of planes. But since then, along with ‘pressure’, it has first crept into our language and more. Perhaps it’s the ever-growing pace of life or an innate competitiveness but pressure and stress have become part of daily life for most people in the so-called civilised world.

Jesus demonstrated how important it is to engage in times of quiet prayer and reflection. When you expend a lot of time and energy in the service of others it is essential to reflect on those experiences, to learn from them and consider what you’d do differently next time. Take time to ask yourself, ‘When do I take time out to renew myself?’