I often times find myself longing for some “me time.” I spend a great part of my day with people, in conversation with people, and thinking about conversations with people. When I am at home, my four lovely children have all kinds of stories to tell me about their daily adventures, what tv show they watched, or a game they played. There’s so many times where some time to myself sounds so good.
As I read Matthew 14, I notice Jesus taking some “me time.” After John the Baptist is killed, “he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself” (v13). Then when crowds find him he does ministry and then, “after he dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray” (v23). When I first read through this, I think this “me time” thing is something that Jesus and I are on the same page with. Yet as I read it through again and again, I get the sense that Jesus’ “me time” is quite a bit different than what I have in mind.
My “me time,” is often doing something mind-numbing like binge watching the office or playing a game on my phone. If I am honest, these are not as much “me time” as they are escapes from the present tasks of life. And while I am sure Jesus would have some time to watch a show or play Candy Crush, when Jesus took time to be by himself, it was not to escape to a mind-numbing activity, but to do something that would help him recharge. For Jesus to recharge meant to spend some one-on-one time with the Father.
I am learning and being reminded again that even more valuable than “me time” is some “me and God time.” Rather than escaping the world, to take the time in silence and solitude to recharge in connection with my heavenly Father.