Unstringing the bow

“‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place” (Mark 6:31-32 NIV).

According to a Greek legend, in ancient Athens a man noticed the great storyteller Aesop playing childish games with some little boys. He laughed and jeered at Aesop, asking him why he wasted his time in such frivolous activity.

Aesop responded by picking up a bow, loosening its string, and placing it on the ground. Then he said to the critical Athenian, “Now, answer the riddle, if you can. Tell us what the unstrung bows implies.”

The man looked at it for several moments but had no idea what point Aesop was trying to make. Aesop explained, “If you keep a bow always bent, it will break eventually; but if you let it go slack, it will be more fit for use when you want it.”

Do you have trouble “unstringing” the bow?

I do. I can get so tightly “strung” that even when I do take vacation, I can’t seem to let go and relax. It takes me a couple of days just to unwind. And in this “wired” age of cell phones, emails, and internet… even a couple of days may not do it. For me to “unstring” I have to unplug too. All it takes is one cell phone call or email to get me wound up tight and working again.

This past week Robin and I spent a few days at the beach. Our two sons and their wives (and our grandson) joined us for part of the time. We played frisbee, threw football, body-surfed, played bocce ball, ate seafood, got sunburned, walked on the beach, caught crabs, stayed up late, held our grandson, and talked.

Now I’m back home. My right shoulder hurts from throwing football and my skin is peeling from sunburn. But my mind and soul are refreshed from the change of pace. It’s good to just take some time to play and recharge (If only I could learn to do it without the injuries).

Even the Son of God took time to rest. When the needs of the crown began to overwhelm, He led His disciples to a “solitary place” to get some rest and to recharge. Jesus understood the need for a balance between work and rest.

Are you taking time to “unstring the bow” this summer?