This week, Norma Jean and I are in the Smoky Mountains, enjoying the beauty, the ambiance, and the refreshing spring weather.
The Smokies have held a special place in our hearts for the past 58 years. We came here on our honeymoon in 1968 and have returned many times since—sometimes for just a brief 2–3 day getaway.
Since I “retired” from full-time, located ministry, we’ve been blessed to spend 1–2 weeks here every spring and fall since 2018. Plus, there was that incredible, surreal eight-week stay during the COVID pandemic.
Typically, I find the mountains to be a place of inspiration. Many blog posts through the years have been born from experiences, reflections, or quiet thoughts prompted by time spent enjoying God’s creation.
This year, however, something deep within my soul is calling for a break.
Instead of trying to maintain my self-imposed schedule of posting five days a week—with an added Saturday recap—I feel the need to simply stop for a few days. There’s an unexplainable sense that I need to rest, breathe in the mountain air, and fully enjoy this time here without writing deadlines hanging over me.
Perhaps I’m finally learning that rest is not laziness—it is renewal.
I’m reminded of one writer who said, “As a rule, I try to write a certain amount each day, five days a week.” Then he wisely added, “A rule sometimes broken is better than no rule.”
Sometimes flexibility is the better part of wisdom. And sometimes rest itself is a form of discipline.
So, for the next few days, I’m stepping away from the keyboard and shutting down the blog. I plan to resume my regular posting schedule next week.
For those wanting daily encouragement from ThePreachersWord, there are 4,214 past posts just a click away, covering more than 180 topics. Pick a category and enjoy the journey.
And as I spend the next few days soaking in a little mountain magic, perhaps the observation of Burton Rascoe, the late American journalist, will prove true for me: “A writer is working when he’s staring out of the window.”
See you all again soon…in May.
—Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
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