I have had these words on my mind for a while now. Actually, it’s how I have felt for a bit, and the reality of these words just keeps hitting me as I appreciate the depths of it. 

I have been pretty tired for a while now, but with no time to rest, or even a moment to catch my breath. Perhaps I felt driving myself harder meant I could force my body into submission to do my bidding when all she really wanted was a little nap.  

You see, I took my eyes off the mark, deluding myself that I could do all things by myself as against drawing strength from my source. I got so caught up in stuff that the precious little moments when I refueled on my knees seemed like eternity, and it was eating into the little time I had to do the things I had to do. 

And that was where I got it all wrong. I focused on the minors, leaving that which is central and integral to my existence for the little ad-ons. Such folly! I mean, no matter how much of a hurry you are in, you just don’t dash out of the house into your car simply refusing to refuel just because you are running late. You do not refuse to refuel the jet at the next stop simply because you have an appointment to keep. Yet, time and time again, we make this same mistake. I made that mistake. 

Refueling makes all the difference. Especially the right type of refueling. Like the inspiration that flows from that tiny silent moment of meditation; or the clarity that stems from pulling back and seeking His direction, or the words of wisdom that come alive, lightening the dark when we are faced with so many options and no real direction. Ah yes… and believe it or not the good old sleep; that refreshes you, giving you the ability to see things differently because your beclouded mind is now settled, allowing you to see and feel clearly. 

It is interesting – if I may call it that, the amount of time we waste, simply because we fail to take a few precious moments to refuel and recalibrate. 

We hurt our bodies by allowing stress to reign. We hurt our loved ones because we become highly irritable and unknowingly lash out at the ones we hold dearest to our hearts. We hurt our pockets when we have to spend hard-earned money on drugs and trips to the hospital. The list goes on and on; and yet we keep going round in circles until it dawns on us – when it is almost too late. 

For the records, I haven’t gotten it all figured out yet. But I have learned a few things that I would like to share. 

Firstly, your day is made up of 24 hours. You owe yourself some of that time simply for you. Technically, you are entitled to one-third of this time for one very simple task – yep… you got it… sleep. 

Secondly, if it can wait, let it, the world won’t end just because of that. That urge to check and reply all mails; waking up in the middle of the night to see how many likes you got on a post, or who is trending on social media or that task that can sincerely wait till Monday but your body is doing gish gish because you haven’t closed out on it. Listen, if it can wait, let it. This does not mean you should make procrastination the order of the day. 

Thirdly, reward yourself. Get yourself a little treat simply because you are worth it. Laze on the beach and get lost in the waves as they hit on the stony shores. Set your mind on something you will like to have after rounding up a difficult task and commit to getting it. This does wonders for your mind and goes a long way to inspire you to be better. 

Fourthly, never forget your source. Does the fire say to wood and the kerosene – I have had enough of you? Does the plant say to the sun – I’m not in the mood for your rays? Does the light bulb say to the power supply – I am tired of being connected? The answer is no. Why? Simple! Cut off the source and you cut short or off the existence – whether it is the fire burning out, or the plant withering or the bulb failing to come on. In the same way, when you get cut off from your source, you drain yourself, and if you are not careful, you will begin to fizzle out, until there is hardly anything left of you. 

So, I challenge you today. I am challenging myself too. Let’s start doing things differently. Let’s start really living life. Let’s seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and watch all other things added unto us. It might seem difficult at first, but if we only try, our Father who is mindful of us will help us do the rest. Come to think of it, if the creator of the Heavens and the earth rested, who you be sef? Point taken, right? Cheers!