I've held jobs in high tech for about 20 years now. One thing I've never been told by a supervisor was to take a break.

In fact, at one company I worked for, the company sponsored a lunchtime picnic at which the CEO announced, "Have a good time but get back to work as soon as you can." Our CEO didn't even want us to take a break when we were taking a break!

There is, of course, a premium placed on being busy in our culture. We tend to assume that if we are busy we are productive and valuable.

In today's Gospel reading Jesus tells his disciples to take a break. The disciples had been deployed in pairs to spread his message, and when they return they are exhilarated but tired. "The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.'"

A few weeks ago, I had an infection that required I stay in bed for a few days. For the first time in my adult life, I enjoyed sitting and doing nothing. My wife waited on me. My kids pampered me. I snoozed, read, watched television, and started over again.

It was wonderful not just because I caught up on my sleep and enjoyed my family, but also because it forced me to realize that earth does not depend on my efforts to stay in orbit. In the past, I felt that I could not let my guard down. I felt that I had to do better than others --- work harder, try harder, achieve more --- in order to justify my existence as a child, spouse, parent and employee.

The world does not depend on any of us to remain in orbit. But we sometimes think that our employers, families, schools and church communities would fall apart without our presence. Sometimes the only way to internalize the truth that we are not that important is to take a break --- remove ourselves from the situations that might otherwise one day overwhelm us with guilt and responsibility. If Jesus and his disciples needed a break, so do we.

The only problem is that they don't find rest. People see Jesus and his disciples leaving and follow them en masse. Jesus sees "the vast crowd," and "his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things." It doesn't look as if the disciples got the rest that they were promised. It would have to be postponed.

That doesn't change the fact that a break was needed and should be a priority. We need to always be open to having our plans changed and our lives interrupted by the inconvenience of other peoples' needs. At some point, however, God will give us the time and space to attend to our own needs, and we need to be able seize those opportunities.

The church has a rich tradition of practicing spiritual restoration --- retreats, service, group and private devotions and other practices. In order to be faithful and fruitful Christians, we need to be connected to the source of our faith --- Jesus Christ. We need to take advantage of these opportunities to give ourselves, and sometimes give the people around us, a break.

Bill Peatman writes from Napa.