Life on the Road
Sep 19th, 2007 by gibsondirect
As I sit here in a hotel room, I think of how people sometimes look at me with envy. As a consultant, I travel a lot. Many people think, “What fun and adventure!” It may be for some folks, but not for me. Being away from family and home is difficult. Hotels can be noisy places where sleep may be difficult. Hotels are nice, but they are not home.
After thirteen years and over a million miles, I’ve learned a routine. Once I get settled in for the night, I usually iron my shirts (yes, it’s true, I hate to admit). I may watch a little TV, but not much. I’ve learned it’s far more rewarding to either do a little work, read—or just sit there and think. I never seem to have enough time to just sit and think. I miss it. So, what better place to do so than while I’m in a hotel room?
I like to think about the “big picture” of my life. So much of my time is spent on the details. To sit and think about where I’ve been and where I need to go is nice. To sit and think on God is nice.
However, it takes a little getting used to—just sitting, thinking. Seems a bit strange at first. It often makes me feel lazy. I always feel I need to be doing something—work, check email. Even watching TV makes me feel like I’m being useful to some extent. So, if someone tells you how easy it is, t’ant so. It takes work to think.
The real trouble is that I have to take it in spells. It’s like my college roommate. There was a time in college when dedicated time for prayer was high on his list. Unfortunately, the praying lasted only five minutes and the sleeping stretched out to thirty or more. So least you imagine me sitting in my hotel room, thinking up all kinds of spiritual, creative thoughts, that doesn’t happen either. I can take it only so long before I have to check emails and catch up on work.
Yet, even with all of my restlessness, I have found the effort rewarding. In some incremental way, despite my weakness, God graciously meets with me, even when my mind continues to do jumping-jacks around a mired of other problems and issues yanking at my shirtsleeve. I’m glad he understands. It makes me want to seek him even more.
I happen to find myself sitting in a hotel room right now as I read your blog. I am no longer used to travelling much. I used to travel a lot for a previous job, and I never liked it. Now I only do it once or twice a year, and I’m grateful.
I am amazed at how much more productive I am in a hotel room when I don’t turn the television on. I kept if off for a while tonight, but then I saw that the Aggies were playing Miami (the Aggies are down by 21 as I type this).
So I’ll probably turn the TV off after the game and see if I can do some writing. Anyway, just thought I would send this message to you from another hotel room and encourage you to keep up the good fight.
I don’t travel much, so I still like it a lot. I think hotels are fun. (I know, but I really don’t get out much.
But I do resonate with the need for sabbath time. That is time not to work and (I think) not to be filled with entertainment. Just to sit and rest and reflect. In theory I like that. I say I like it.
But so often I need work to be getting done in order to feel good about myself. I need help with that.
[...] Direct writes about how hard it is to sit and rest and do nothing. Staying in hotels is teaching him lessons in this [...]
[...] Direct writes about how hard it is to sit and rest and do nothing. Staying in hotels is teaching him lessons in this [...]