‘As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children among you. Or we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children. We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too. Don’t you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you? Night and day we toiled to earn a living so that we would not be a burden to any of you as we preached God’s Good News to you. You yourselves are our witnesses—and so is God—that we were devout and honest and faultless toward all of you believers. And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children. We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.’ 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12(NLT)
‘So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.’ 1 Thessalonians 5:11(NLT)
A friend compared returning from a business trip to a space vessel re-entering Earth’s atmosphere and landing or splashing down. High velocity, speed, heat, and two worlds intersecting make atmospheric re-entry one of the most dangerous segments of the mission. The vessel must hit at the perfect angle and speed and ultimately slow down to land.
When a Road Warrior returns, two worlds intersect. The traveler is in solo mode and slowing down. The person at home has been in a more normal routine, although oftentimes managing a household alone. It’s usually day’s end, and a growling stomach with the element of stress make perfect ingredients for a collision.
It’s difficult to put yourself in somebody else’s shoes, but this is a critical moment for you and your loved ones to try. The process of reintegration requires selflessness, empathy, patience, and good communication to engineer a full return to the role God intended for you within the family unit.
In order to do this effectively, try to set work on the back burner and connect with God in prayer on your way home. Walk through the door with your spiritual focus front of mind and ready to give of yourself. Give your family your full attention. Upload and download once you have had time to settle. Discuss how your spiritual focus on the trip played out and how God answered your day 1 prayers. Share the challenges you faced as well. Invite one another into each other’s lives.
The objective of intentional reentry is to sensitively reconnect and reintegrate. Keeping your worlds connected before and during your journey will make this final step less onerous. This along with the other 4 disciplines in this Bible Plan series lay a solid foundation to undergird Road Warriors to face the challenges the road presents with strong spiritual footing, and ultimately, to return stronger.
from A Road Warrior’s Guide To Spiritual Discipline