Blog on a Plane

Recipe for Relief:

2 parts WestJet
20 parts marital bliss
3 generous couples
1part tropical island

=a wonderful, all-expense paid trip to Hawai’i for our
20th wedding anniversary!


I’m writing this on the plane, the sun is blaring in my eyes, yet it is 10:00 p.m. my time. When all is said and done, Ken and I will be arriving at our condo past midnight. I had big plans for my arrival - sit on the beach in the dark of night and listen to the waves lap the shore, or maybe take in a rooftop swim in the salt water pool (no chlorine!), or dine down the block with live Hawaiian serenade. Truth be told, sleep may prevail.

But with a month of aloha ahead, I am sure the sleep will do me good.

The year has been a good one with much ado about the Mission. Ken has been busy with the inner city church plant and a full schedule of counselling, teaching and preaching. It’s a different kind of tired when the work is spiritual. In a manner of speaking, you find yourself responsible for people’s souls.

As for me, there have been enough adventures to wear me out a little: developing an executive team, restructuring & growing staff, purchasing and renovating a youth centre and daycare, two Gospel nights, myriads of tv and radio interviews, a fund raising banquet & graduation ceremony, a Paragon award, a Women of Distinction award, two volunteer awards (Yay, Beth!), board reports and meetings, a conference, multiple speaking engagements, some business travel… well, the list goes on. I mean, what does a CEO actually DO?!

I have an awesome team, and many of the things listed I am ultimately responsible for, yet I have great people to take the lead. Still, there is a weariness in the bones that creeps in after 11 months of go go go. And so, as I bask in the sun, streaming through my airplane window, I know that I am ready for this rest.

I’m a person who seems to balance my life in chunks. For the next month, I’m incognito. I become Michelle the wife. I set aside my CEO and missionary hats. It’s just me. And just the person who knows me this way. No masks. No deadlines. No charades. No shenanigans! ;)

Life isn’t always balanced. In fact, it’s virtually impossible to achieve balance these days, at least for those of us who work full time. But rest can come in ways least expected, and isn’t always regimented in the way we wish. For me, a month off every June keeps me coming back for more. It refreshes my soul, nourishes my marriage, and revives me for another year in the service of the King.


In the Service of the King

I am happy in the service of the King.
I am happy, O so happy!
I have peace and joy that nothing else can bring,
In the service of the King.

In the service of the King
Every talent I will bring.
I have peace and joy and blessing
In the service of the King.

I am happy in the service of the King.
I am happy, O so happy!
Through the sunshine and the shadow I can sing,
In the service of the King.

I am happy in the service of the King.
I am happy, O so happy!
All that I possess to Him I gladly bring,
In the service of the King.