The Early Years of Creativity and Peace
This is a story about Shane. In his younger years, he was creative and spontaneous, always seeking adventure. He loved to travel, play music, and capture life’s beauty through his artistic lens. Shane played the guitar and ukulele, wrote songs and poems, and led worship at his church. He brimmed with passion, joy, and vibrant, contagious energy. When he met Shawna, they were captivated by each other’s creativity and zest for life. Despite his busy life, Shane knew the importance of taking time to rest and recharge.
Shane had a way of turning ordinary moments into extraordinary ones. He took photos of every little thing they did together, compiling them into photo albums and collages. He made videos of their road trips and even the mundane parts of the day, transforming them into cinematic montages set to music. Beauty seemed to unfold wherever he looked—whether in a bird perched on a branch or an old couple on a park bench. His sketchbook was a constant companion on their walks, capturing fleeting moments in pencil strokes.
Meeting Shawna sparked a new wave of inspiration in him. Shane wrote songs about their life together, their adventures, and the goodness of God he saw reflected in her. His creativity even extended to cooking. It became an art form for him—crafting delicious meals, plating them thoughtfully, and inviting friends to share the experience. To Shane, creating was more than a hobby; it was worship, an expression of being made in the image of the Creator.
Life Gets Full
Shane and Shawna married within a year of meeting, instantly feeling like best friends. They knew God had a purpose for their lives together, even if the details were still unclear. Four years later, their family grew: Stephen, then Susan, and finally twins Sterling and Stephanie—four kids in six years. Life became full—wonderfully and exhaustingly full… yet with little rest.
During this time, Shane’s career shifted. He loved his job at a small graphic design and digital marketing company, where creativity and community thrived. However, a larger company noticed his talent and offered him a management role. The higher pay was tempting and came with promises of leadership opportunities. He accepted the position. However, the role demanded extensive travel, committee meetings, and overseeing a large team—leaving little room for the creative pursuits Shane loved.
As his leadership responsibilities grew, his creativity faded into the background. There was no time for creativity or rest. His cameras gathered dust, his sketch pads remained empty, and his instruments locked away. Journals once filled with dreams, poems, and song ideas now sat untouched. The once-vibrant Shane seemed buried under the weight of busyness and responsibility.
The Recurring Dream
One night, Shane had a vivid dream. Two brothers stood in a field near an empty cave. A gang of men appeared, ready to steal their land. The older brother stepped forward to fight, telling the younger one to hide in the cave.
“Quick! Go hide,” the older brother insisted. “I’ll handle this. Stay safe.”
“But I can fight too,” the younger brother protested, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and determination.
“Not this time. I got this. Trust me.”
Reluctantly, the younger brother obeyed. But as the fight raged on, the younger brother wandered deeper into the cave, lost in the darkness. The older brother, though strong, began to falter against the gang. Shane woke up disturbed but unsure of the dream’s meaning.
Over the years, the dream recurred, leaving him increasingly unsettled.
A Day of Reflection and Peace
On Friday, after an exhausting week, Shane called in sick. The house was quiet, with his wife out running errands and the kids at school. For the first time in a long time, Shane sat in stillness, savouring a moment of rest. His eyes fell on the shelves in his home office—full of dusty reminders of the person he used to be—a longing stirred within him.
“How did I let it all slip away?” he murmured, running his hand along the spine of an old journal.
As he scanned the shelves, his hand landed on an old book, Wintering by Katherine May. Flipping to the first chapter, he read:
“I have always been a cook. But in the last few years, cooking has been pushed out of my life, along with the accompanying pleasure of shopping for ingredients. Life has been busy, and in the general rush of things, these vital fragments of my identity have been squeezed out. I have missed them, but in a shrugging kind of way. What can you do when you’re already doing everything? The problem with ‘everything’ is that it ends up looking an awful lot like nothing: just one long haze of frantic activity, with all meaning sheared away.”
The words hit like a thunderclap. Tears welled up as Shane reread the passage, “… vital fragments of my identity have been squeezed out.” It perfectly captured what he had been feeling but couldn’t articulate. His creativity wasn’t a luxury but essential to who he was. Yet, it had been pushed aside, fragmented, and forgotten in the rush of life. The realization was both painful and illuminating.
The Turning Point
Later that afternoon, as Shane drifted off to sleep on the couch, he dreamed again of the two brothers. This time, the younger brother emerged from the cave. Pale, weak, and disoriented, he hesitated before running to help his older brother. Together, they fought off the gang, side-by-side. The brothers stood together when the battle ended, victorious and reunited.
“We’re better together. I’m sorry for not trusting you,” the older brother said, embracing the younger one.
Shane woke up with a sense of clarity. The older brother represented his leadership side, strong but weary. The younger brother was his creative side, neglected and hidden for too long. Together, they could thrive, but only if Shane made space for both.
A New Plan to Rest
When Shawna returned, Shane shared everything—his dreams, reflections, and longing to rediscover his creativity.
“I’ve been feeling like this for years,” Shane admitted, his voice trembling. “Like I’ve lost pieces of myself. I can’t keep going like this. I need to make a change.”
“What kind of change?” Shawna asked, her voice soft but curious.
“A sabbatical. Time to step back, reconnect with God, rest… with you and the kids, and find a part of myself again… my creative self.”
Shawna’s eyes welled with tears. “I see it too, Shane. You’ve been carrying so much. Maybe this is what you need.”
Over the next six months, they began practicing a weekly Sabbath as a family. Though it helped, Shane’s exhaustion ran deeper. He carefully drafted a proposal to his company’s board, explaining his journey and requesting a one-year sabbatical. To his surprise, they agreed, recognizing the toll his responsibilities had taken on him. They even encouraged him to pursue more creative projects upon his return.
A New Beginning
With excitement and nervous anticipation, Shane and his family planned their sabbatical. They chose the Gargano Peninsula in Italy, a place of tranquil beauty Shane had visited in his twenties. Renting out their home and putting life on hold, they set off on a sunny July morning, ready for rest and whatever God had in store.
To be continued…
Reflections & Next Steps
I hope you enjoyed this story, which reminds us of the importance of slowing down and prioritizing what truly matters. For more inspiration on living an unhurried, intentional life, check out my recent posts:
Discovering Patience and Purpose in an Unhurried Life
A Family Sabbath: Embracing Rest in a Busy World
The Loyal Heart of Copper: Love, Loss, and Family Renewal