This week has been hectic.

I’m starting to grade things for report cards, prepping to leave for the weekend, and trying to invest in my youth group by actually showing up for things.

My classroom swallowed me the first week of school, and I’m starting to poke my head out into the real world again.

For my own sanity, I think that’s a good thing.

This week I realized I’ve been draining myself by teaching and giving so much – and it’s time to be renewed so I can actually be an effective teacher.

So this morning, with high ideals, I ambitiously packed my church clothes and food for my supper before heading off to school.

I hadn’t been to Wednesday evening prayer meeting since school started, but tonight would be the night.

My day started. However, when you add 23 gixth graders to your mental plan of what the day will be like, well… it can go off the rails.

Everything has a way of taking more time than you think it should, and by end of the day, I was rather exhausted.

I tackled lesson plans and checking with zeal.

A couple hours later, much closer to done but not finished, I looked at the clock. 15 minutes until I had to leave for church.

And suddenly, I was exhausted.

Going to bed early would have felt so good…

But this time, I decided to stick to my plan.

Sleep would renew me physically, but sometimes the inspiration from Bible study with your church people is what you need to renew you spiritually.

The conversations with friends after the service reminded me I’m not alone in the world of teaching and serving others – we’re all filling different roles that God has called us to, and all of us feel weary sometimes.

Connecting with other people renews me emotionally and refreshes me mentally.

I’m still tired.

But I’m glad I went to prayer meeting tonight.

The spiritual, emotional, and mental renewal of doing something outside of work is sometimes as important as the physical renewal of sleep…

Maintaining myself in all these areas is a careful balance.

But balancing renewal is vital to effective service.

And now, I’m finished creating coherent thoughts for the day… I shall go to bed in search of some physical renewal before another day of teaching dawns.