Three years ago the signs of deep neglect came to the surface in my life. In working to get Community of Hope birthed, I had invested 7 years of energy and time that had left me depleted. I had neglected my own health. Drained, passionless, and angry, my emotional, physical and spiritual health was anemic. I came close to walking away, not only from COH, but from the ministry that I had so deeply loved. In sharing my plight with COH leaders, they quickly required that I take a sabbatical (time away to reflect, reconnect, and refuel.) There was no guarantee that I would return. But in God's grace, I did. I am deeply grateful.

During that sabbatical time I promised that I would do everything I could to never allow this to happen again. I came to realize that as a pastor pushing 60 years of age, I did not have the stamina or ability to bounce back as in my younger years. I had to readjust my lifestyle and work habits. I adopted a regular exercise routine, let some things be done by others, and prioritize to do what I do best, One of the things I promised myself was to make plans to take a one month sabbatical every two years to help maintain my physical, emotional and spiritual health. During the month of August I'll be away four weeks doing that. I ask your prayers during this time as I "disconnect" in order to truly "reconnect."

I once heard a speaker share about an experience he had at recent dental appointment. "The anesthetic had already kicked in when my dentist arrived, apologizing for being late. She had a good reason: She had just come back from an appointment with her own dentist, she said. When she flashed a smile at me, I noticed her teeth, perfect, straight, and white. Then she put on her surgical mask, revved her drill like a chain saw, and went to work on me." I kept thinking about her teeth. It's not surprising that a dentist would have a bright smile, of course. In fact, I rather expect it. But her comment about having just come back from her own appointment made me realize that when it comes to dental maintenance, her professional status gives her no advantage over me. She's bound by the same rules that I am: you gotta brush em, you gotta floss em, and you gotta let somebody else drill em every now and then, no matter who you are. It's the same for leaders in ministry. The rules that apply to the people in the pew also apply to you and me, always. We'll never get beyond our need for the basics: a daily devotional life, the call to love others, and the need to die to oneself."

I've never known a dentist who neglected his or her own teeth -- at least not to the point that it shows. I have, however, known some Christian leaders who neglected their spiritual health in favor of getting results and racking up good stats. I've been one, even. It's an easy trap to fall into. And it's also a difficult secret to keep. Just like neglecting the care of one's teeth soon becomes obvious, so does neglecting the care of your spiritual life.

For this reason, every leader needs to make it a habit to get into God's presence on a regular basis, and to give God free reign to conform us to the image of Jesus. It's a place leaders will never surpass; it's where we must spend some time every day and occasionally some prolonged time.