The Plum Tree
(This story is retold with permission)
Today was the last LifePlan review for a friend. A LifePlan is a two-day, introspective look
into where you are, where you’ve come from and where you must go based on your
collective learning.
My experience as a LifePlanner has taught me the high value
of ongoing coaching and accountability for those who complete the LifePlan
process. At the recommendation of another LifePlan facilitator, I desire to
stay in a coaching relationship for one year after the LifePlan.
Today, I was holding the last review for a friend who’s
LifePlan was exactly 1 year ago. When we were creating the LifePlan, he
confessed, “Tommy I don’t know how to refuel; I simply can’t. I know it’s not
scriptural to always be focused on work but I don’t know any other way.”
From experience, I know we are not designed for going
without rest. More than just rest, we need to refuel. For me, it’s the mountains.
I can’t explain it other than my batteries get fully charged when I spend time
in the mountains. Many of my LifePlanners describe water or the ocean or simply
time outside as their places of respite. Almost always, people will describe a need
to be in nature or something similar as a means to find true re-creation.
I believe from my core we all need this time to truly find a
means of balance in all domains of our lives. Pastors are particularly bad at
this. Maybe that’s another blog.
Anyway, my friend told me a great story today. As a result of our coaching call last quarter,
he went outside and worked in his yard. He agreed to “practice” finding ways to
refuel. One particular project was to prune a plum tree. Today, in our review, he remembered he was to
send me pics to prove he had done it (I had heard promises before and wanted
proof!). In preparation for our review, he discovered the pics he had failed to
send. It made him smile inside and out.
Yesterday, he and his wife sat in their back yard and admired the fruit of his
labor from last fall. The plum tree he had pruned is loaded with a bumper crop
of plums.
Today he said, “I think I found my refueling spot.”
Prune your plum tree.
Peace for your way,
T.
