Spring Break

Today marks the end of a long, "vacation" weekend with the family. I was joking with a friend that I am not sure I know what "vacation" means anymore, especially when it involves getting on a plane with four kids and cramming into a hotel room. My friend’s response was insightful, "Dan, maybe it’s not about where you are or who you’re with, but about how you get to be with them." The lethargy I had felt around travel, hotel rooms, and family routines was no match for the fascination with which my little ones looked at tiny bottles of shampoo, elevator buttons, and hotel pools. It made me wonder about what else I may be missing in my life and leadership. How might everyday experiences I take for granted hold a deeper value if I were able to look at them from a different perspective? Especially during this season of Lent, how might I take a "vacation" from the way I lead in order to be more present to who I lead? Perhaps it’s my mindset that needs the biggest vacation…second to the people sitting next to us on the plane.