This past month I took a brief hiatus from writing and posting weekly blogs to spend some focused time evaluating, reviewing and refining the purpose, priority and future direction of The Rest Stop. I wanted to make certain I am remaining true to the cause I believe so strongly in and make any needed course corrections.

My journey toward rest and greater life balance began nearly five years ago and I started writing and recording weekly blogs in July of 2022.  If you are new to this site, you can click on the new? button on the site menu. This section includes my first five posts where I share the foundational steps and decisions I made resulting in dozens of lasting life changes. During this recent assessment exercise, I asked myself, “Have I stayed true to the vision?” “Have I compromised any of my convictions or core values?” “Have I gotten off track in any way?” “Are there still topics I need to write about and share?” “What changes might I need to make?”

Over the past two plus years I’ve sought to provide principles and practical steps to take toward a life of rest and greater life balance. But I have also probed and challenged us to dig deeper and questioned some of our traditional assumptions. I’ve dealt with the subject of rest and life balance from a physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual standpoint. Weekly posts have addressed diet, exercise, stress, time management, work, relationships, retirement, money, materialism, minimalism, motives and more.

So, you might ask what conclusions did you come to Ralf during your time of reflection? Are there any refinements or course corrections to be made? Yes, I do have three areas that I will be moving toward. 1) I would like to use The Rest Stop website to provide or link to resources and share the wisdom and expertise of authors and speakers who have done some amazing research and work on subjects associated with rest and life balance, who are brilliant inspiring sages who have mentored me, and are a treasure-trove of information. 2) I have a desire to connect like-minded folks who seek to live a more deliberate, quiet, peaceful, restful, and balanced life. I envision perhaps developing a community forum or affinity and engagement groups for those who desire to connect, share ideas and experiences, and encourage one another in their journey 3) I do have one area that I need to reinforce moving forward. I have made no attempt to hide or obfuscate that the core values and principles that form the framework of my writings are based on the Bible and influenced by my commitment to be a faithful follower and apprentice of Jesus.

For those that have enjoyed and benefitted from the more practical side of rest and life balance, and the life hacks that I might share, you may not necessarily agree with those blog posts that address or focus on spiritual matters. But I make no apology, nor will I shy away from the truth and my firm conviction that “True Rest” can only come through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Only in Him will we ever experience lasting true rest. If I write weekly Rest Stop blogs for the next 10 years and have 1000’s of readers, and subscribers who express how  the practices and principles of rest I’ve written about have helped them achieve greater levels of rest and life balance in “this life”, and yet never point them to the One who provides “True Rest” and “True Life”, then I will consider this endeavor a failure.

I will continue to write blogs on the 6 areas that make up the basis of my writings about rest and life balance. Whether I lose readers and subscribers who may find this commitment offensive or gain readers and listeners is not something I can control. What I can control though is my commitment to remain true to the One who provides True rest and continue to write and communicate to the best of my ability the purposes, principles, priorities, and practices, which have brought me to where I am today in my journey. In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus says “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – Watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (The Message Bible)

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