I have been fairly busy for the past three weeks of my life. I am not used to be so busy and I do like it. It makes me think I’m cool and important because I have always a lot of things to do. But really, I am just immature for thinking that way. I have literally spent 90% of my free-time doing homework, reading and doing projects. In the metro, on the bus, almost every mid-class break I spent in reading for my classes. Apart for my weekend in
Sherbrooke and the day I went to
La Ronde (by the way, this picture is Corinne and I in the Monstre!), I was just plunged into my studies. 

I started noticing that I had a lot of things I wanted to do, like writing a letter to a friend, start reading a new book (for pleasure)… but that I wasn’t able to find time to do them. I could make room for these things, but I knew I had “more important / urgent” things to do for school. I didn’t like that. I was putting to much of my time on the university part of my life and stopped caring as much about an other part: my friends, myself. You know, the things that keep you going and healthy. 

So Saturday night I said to myself, “Gabe, tomorrow you’re off. You won’t be doing any school-related business.” It is not that I am done all my homework and readings. I could be doing many things right now that I really want to do soon for school. But from the time I got up this morning, I haven’t touched anything school-related. I didn’t know it would be so neat. I really feel like on vacation, I am prohibited to work! It feels good and I did not expect that. I know I do have a lot of things to do yet for school, but I need to take a break, otherwise it’s going to be unhealthy.  

So my day was good. I went to church in the morning and the evening. I wrote two letters to friends. I would like to start reading a new book, or just sit down and process my thoughts. Relax.  

I talked to my grandma about it, that I was taking a break today. She thought it was a good thing. But when I told her she should do the same and take a day off from always be walking around do millions of things, cleaning up and so on, she said that it was not possible because she had to do these things, “Ça n’aurait pas d’allure, j’en ai bin d’trop à faire.” (It would be crazy, I have too much to do). I didn’t go further. But this is the point: You take a break not when you’re all done, but in the midst of all your business, you stop and refresh yourself. I know some of us feel guilty for doing so, but we must learn to take breaks.  

Do you need a break?  

That’s the same with grace. God offered us free salvation, the forgiveness of our sins because of Jesus’ sacrifice. In the midst of all our efforts to reach salvation by our own means, Jesus calls us to stop and simply come to Him by faith. To rest. And start working again with a new spirit and attitude: desiring to obey Him out of thankfulness and love.

Failing Gabe

Bank for Native Missionaries: 19.61$ so far for September. Thanks to all who gave. I’ll be sending the money pretty soon and we’ll start again for October. Please think about helping by giving a buck or two next month. Pray for them.