This Friday at 6am, I leave with my home church to Mexicali for a week. It is a full day of driving straight through to set up a week of partnership ministry with the local churches in the city. Then it will be a long drive back home just in time for the Saturday Easter services at First Cov. A few nights ago, Tonya and I were chatting about this week and the things which need to get done. She said, "I'm looking forward to you going to Mexicali so you can come back refreshed."

It struck me weird, and I had to respond inquisitively, "You DO know I'm going to come home exhausted, right?"

My wife spoke wisdom...AGAIN. "Yes, you will come home physically exhausted, but you are going to come home refreshed in ministry just like you did last year."

She was and is very right. (obviously! It's a spiritual gift wives have: always-right-ness)

I am reaching a similar threshold I was reaching last year at this time; one that is overwhelming in all the demands of maintaining ministry. The spinning plates are starting to totter. Tonya added, "You're starting to forget things and drop things that just aren't 'you' to drop."

Though there is a lot of work to be done in Mexicali, I can ONLY do the work of Mexicali. Away from my computer. Away from my iPhone. Away from my leadership team (whom I love). Away from the church I serve (and love). Away from my coffee shop office. Away from my meetings. Away from coffees with disgruntled people. Away from...

Yes, we will run our bodies dry and weary in Mexico, but sometimes we need that sort of removed exhaustion to come home refreshed.

Looking forward to it.