I had a very strange thought while on work/vacation this week. I wondered what Dr. King thought about on vacation. I’m sure from time to time someone must have encouraged him to take a break. That they saw the stress of the work take a toll on his body. He probably did not eat properly; did not get enough sleep or give any thought to exercising
He must of wondered about all the work he could have been doing while he did what he might have believed to be nothing. I’m also sure that because of who he was, there were people around to protect him from danger. Which made the environment less than leisurely. In addition, he must have run across people who knew who he was and wanted to talk politics. I’m also sure that at those times when he was with Coretta; she asked; “what are you thinking about?” Thus because of the confidence he had in her; he told her; followed by a little conversation, some smiles and brief escape only to then go back to thinking about the people is was attempting to serve.
Given what was taking place around the time, I’m sure news of what was happening in his community still found a way of reaching him. More than likely raising his level of anxiety and causing him to drift back into the very world the vacation was intended to provide him relieve.
I’m also sure at times he tried desperately to turn it off. To give more attention to his wife and children. However the weight of his calling remained to be a burden on his mind where he continued to hear the cries and see the suffering of a community he was called to change.
In no way am I suggesting that I’m Dr. King, Malcolm X, President Obama or Jesus for that matter. But I have to believe that the psychological burdens of purpose leadership is the same. I also believe that today we are fighting part of the same fight. Which means the gravity of the struggle is the same.
I, like many other leaders around me have been told, “take care of yourself,” “you can’t help others if you don’t take care of you,” and the proverbial analogy, “when the oxygen masks falls, you have to put yours on first.” I also very aware that I’m no spring chicken; I can’t dunk anymore, can’t beat my 6 year old son in a race and would struggle carrying my wife over the threshold again. Trust me, I’m also not trying to be a great eulogy for my Paster to give over my body.
I am however trying to do my best at what the Lord has placed in my spirit to accomplish. Not at the expense of myself, however at the expense of being obedient to my purpose and destiny. I pray that these become the words of a very wise old, old, old man. So, until the Lord taps me on the shoulder and pulls me out the game, I’m gonna leave everything I have on the field. As a result, I pray I am able to make true every promise He’s made to me and be every blessing I’m suppose to be to you.
