As I write and from where I am in western Pennsylvania, the thaw from the big chill is happening. Feels like temperatures in negative numbers are no longer. My son at the University of Miami and everyone in that area seemed to be the only ones who didn’t have to endure the cold. It wasn’t even cold enough there that he had to worry about falling iguanas.

With the thaw, the dreams of the perfect and fruitful backyard garden sustained by the numerous seed catalogs with their bright pictures beckons me to spend more money to buy seeds. Snowdrops from my grandparents’ home and Lenten roses are beginning to push out of the ground.

As I write, preparations for Lent are in full swing. Due to lunar cycles and calendars beyond my personal understanding Easter is early this year, thus Lent is early too. I am reminding myself that I need to find the palms from last year and have a burning party using my small kettle grill. Perhaps this is something the youth group would be interested in doing with me.

As you read this article, we will either be just before, during, or after Holy Week. If you are in the midst of Holy Week, whether you are serving a congregation or in the various ministries one can serve, you got this. Rather, God in Christ has you, loves you, and is with you as you serve, lead, worship, preach, care and share the message of Good News that not even death can hold back our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.

As you read this, you may have decided that Holy Week comes first and that reading articles comes second. That is probably what I would do. So you are reading now, post Holy Week. Perhaps you are even “off” this week. I have often wondered about the disciples’ return to Galilee following Christ’s resurrection. Three of the four Gospels share in some fashion about Galilee following Christ’s resurrection. Why Galilee? It was where Jesus first started his public ministry. It was where many of the disciples were from. It was familiar territory, perhaps it was also a safe place for them. Were the disciples exhausted, wrung out? Were they just sort of done? Had they had enough? Were they overwhelmed, still trying to comprehend all that happened to them and with Jesus, not only in the past weeks, but the past years? In the Gospel of John they return to the old job of fishing. I wonder if it meant they were done with Jesus and being a disciple or that it was just so familiar to them to provide some kind of comfort? I marvel in the same story from John that Jesus makes food for the disciples and himself. Bread, some fish, and then more fish added from the disciples catch. Jesus somehow just knew that food, fellowship, breaking of bread was important.

A mentor and friend once said at my ordination, “Remember, you are not God, God is God. Phil is Phil. Phil’s task is to serve God by doing what he can and then go home, enjoy his family, his food and his sleep.” For many years post Easter, I would head home. It was a chance to catch my breath, sleep, get a good cheesesteak and for the kids to see their grandparents. In fact, most of us, including congregation members, take a break after Easter. The Sunday after Easter is called “Low Sunday” for a reason. It might also be the busiest Sunday of the year for guest pastors.

Perhaps we aren’t that different from the first disciples. Whether we return home or not, we all need a bit of a pause, a chance to reorient ourselves after a very full season. Things can wait. Eat some good food. Take a nap or two. Go for a long walk if you are able. Spend some time in nature. Shut off the phone. Put the email on “Vacation responder.” Get off of social media. Plant some seeds. Listen to lovely music. I pray that you will do some deep caring of self this season.