Last week, Jim and I were blessed to be able to go to Gatlinburg for several days because of the generosity of some wonderful people.  I know times have been difficult lately and I was definitely tired when we left.  However, I didn’t know how much I needed to get away until I got away!

Even though we were on vacation, I always make sure I take my laptop and current real estate files just in case I need to take care of some business while I am gone.  Sure enough, the day we were driving down, I got an email telling me that I needed to respond regarding a deal I have in the works.  I knew it would be later in the day when we arrived so I planned to get to the cabin, turn on my computer and work immediately on the request.  So after we settled in, I set up my computer only to find that the internet was down!

We called the cable company and they told us they were working on our problem and it should be fixed soon.  So we waited.  The TV finally worked, but even the next morning, no internet.  We called them again and they said it was still out and they would let us know when it was fixed.  Since we couldn’t change anything about our situation, we went ahead, got breakfast and started planning our first day of vacation.  Later that afternoon, it was still not working.  It was now Friday afternoon before the holiday weekend so I wasn’t too worried at that point.  I would get it done before they  got back to work on Tuesday.

As time went on, and each day passed, we still did not have any service.  I found that as each day passed, I really didn’t miss it all that much.  It was really quite enjoyable to sit on the porch and listen to the birds, read a little here and there, and just spend time talking with Jim.  It occurred to me that if I had the internet all weekend, I would’ve been working because that’s what I do.

I thought about that for a while and realized that I think God had another plan for me.  In order for me to be able to get the rest and relaxation I needed, He literally had to unplug my world.  Otherwise, I may never have stopped to enjoy the peace He had provided for us during our retreat in an area of the country I call heaven.

Is there something that you need to unplug in your life so that you can hear God or find peace in your life?  Do you work too much like I do?  Is your life full of to-do lists and other activities that distract you on a daily basis?  Maybe you have something else that God is speaking to you about as you read along.  Although my report had to wait until Tuesday night when we returned home, it was all OK.  It got it done in plenty of time. The fact was, I needed the rest and God knew best.

I’m thankful that I serve a God that cares about me.  He takes care of all of my needs even when I don’t realize what they are myself!  We simply just need to unplug long enough from the worldly distractions around us in order to connect with God and all that He has to offer us.  I am sure we often miss out on blessings because we aren’t plugged into the right source!

I hope you can find God’s blessings amidst the chaos of life this week!  Have a great week and don’t forget to get out there and be a blessing!

Psalm 23:1-3 (NIV)  The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.