YOUR day off...

What do you do on your "day" off?

"Days off" the term itself has a real sweet feel to it. "I'm off"!'  For years I didn't take a specific day off. In Hamilton, I had to actually leave town to take a day off.  It seemed everywhere I went I'd end up in counsel with someone or dropping by the little hospital. Anywhere I went I was "the preacher".  Periodically I'd take a couple of days and get away.  Frankly , the longer I was there, the more frequently I had to take such times.  

At Granny White, the elders demanded I take one (and I appreciated it). So I started taking Fridays! WOW - I loved it. I'd read, catch up on correspondence, go to the office and actually close the door, run extended runs, take care of errands, sometimes do some house stuff, visit old church buildings, oh it was a rich day.

Well, here I am in Spring Hill and I find myself slipping. Sans on site administrative help and with a mobile office with my phone serving as both personal and business I am find myself almost always working.  With no sons at home to push me to ball games.  Not a complaint - I have always loved my work and do now. That is sometimes the problem.  I'll be watching "LOST" with my computer in lap working on an outline, article, editing or "powerpointing".  I'll be watching the 10:00 news and before I know it it will be 11:30 and I'm still responding to emails.  

I heard Eugene Petterson interviewed a few months ago and he talked about how for years he had totally disconnected one day a week.  No phone, fax, ipod, internet, computer.  

I preach about not taking on more than is healthy or committing to more than you can accomplish, about how the body needs rest and how God made us to recreate, how even He "took a day off".  I preach pretty good on this cause I'm preaching to myself.  

I've been thinking lately of trying something rather interesting.  Disconnecting from phone, podcast and email for three hours four mornings each week.  I look at the volumes of books Calvin, Spurgeon, Lipscomb, McGarvey, Campbell, etc - without the "convenience" of internet and the "useful tools" we have (perhaps they aren't so useful).  What do you think?

How do you disconnect?  When do you disconnect? What do you do on your "off day"?  I'd like to hear.