Today, we are taking the day off. And I really mean we; not we meaning me, but we meaning us. I asked my man for a week day to take him for a little after-the-fact Father’s Day treat and he complied. So we are headed into a day of playing hooky.

I actually have a couple of things planned. First, we are going to see the new George W. Bush Presidential Library. We both love history, and especially anything having to do with the office of the President. Fascinating stuff. Then, we are headed to the cemetery.

Yes, the cemetery.

On Father’s Day, 1982, Kevin proposed to me at his dad’s graveside because he never got to tell his dad he’d found the girl he wanted to marry (his mom swears that he knew. 🙂 ). A graveside proposal, on a little bench next to a babbling brook, was the best way he could think of to include his dad in this important part of his life. I’ve always loved my proposal story because it’s so tender. Because we haven’t lived anywhere close to the cemetery in years and years, it’s been that long since we’ve visited. I figured Father’s Day (or close to it!) was the perfect time.

Sometimes you need to play hooky. And I don’t just mean from work or school. I mean from life. You need to steal away from all the people, and the chatter, and the technology (especially the technology), and regroup. Re-energize. Refocus on what’s important.

You know, Jesus did that. He did it quite a bit, actually, stealing away from the constant demands and pressures from the people surrounding Him. He didn’t do it because He didn’t love those people; I think He did it because He did. He knew that He needed to step back and regroup. He needed to refocus and spend some time alone with His Father, to do give His best for the people around Him.

That’s why I’m up so early on my ‘playing hooky’ day.  Actually, I play hooky from my life every morning, before the sun comes up. I need that time with the Father more than occasionally to get through this life in one piece. It changes things and puts me in a better frame of mind to face what life throws at me, and be what I need to be for my people. I figure if Jesus needed it, I need it about 572 times more.

I’m gonna run and wake up Sleeping Brawny in there. We’re going to get an early start. Certainly, I’m thankful for every day together, but I’m especially thankful for the days we get to play hooky…and regroup, re-energize…refocus on what’s so very, very  important.

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:35 NIV

“As often as possible Jesus withdrew to out-of-the-way places for prayer.” Luke 5:16 MSG

“When Jesus got the news, he slipped away by boat to an out-of-the-way place by himself.” Matthew 14:13 MSG