Dano in Mexico: Do I go to Mexico because I can't think straight?

Leaving for Mexico

Here I am, yet again… off on my annual trip to Mexico.

Arriving after a long day of travel

I’ve been visiting this place for one or two weeks a year for the last 13 years. A friend from church started organizing trips to help support an orphanage in Colima, Mexico. In 2020 I started coming down for a month at a time. I call it my Sabbatical, which I define as a purposeful time to get away and do different things.

While here I WILL NOT do most of my normal daily tasks and I WILL DO other unique different tasks that are outside the normal.

I’ll continue: Morning Bible Study, Morning time in purposeful prayer, My morning exercise (Setups, pushups, & stretches on my bad knee and back) and daily Spanish lessons.

Then I’ll add a few new things:

Play with kids every day
Just sit and talk and listen to other people
Tackle a bigger repair project with a couple friends/workers here
Do minor repairs around the properties
Nap
Review & modify my goals
Read a fiction book
Laugh (the people here laugh a lot!)
Ponder where I am and where I want to be by spending extra time in prayer
and most importantly… I’ll just be.

I recently read an article about Cognitive Load. It discussed the idea that when our mind is full all of the time with things to do, relationships to improve (or cut off), incomplete tasks, never-ending emails and work projects... it can be overwhelming.

When cognitive load is too high, it is difficult to put focused attention on new ideas and deep thought into current struggles because we just may not have the brain power for a needed, extended length of time to do it.

I would guess that you use weekends to unplug from your cognitive load like I do. However, just unplugging may not get us the rest that we need or the resolutions that we desire.

This trip is a great time to not only unplug, but to also direct my thoughts and actions in ways that just can’t happen within a very hectic schedule in the United States.

So I guess the best answer as to "Why do you spend so much time is Mexico" is: I love my Mexican brothers and sisters in Christ, they are like family. I love the kids and desire to help them know that they are loved. But honestly, and selfishly, it is to better connect with God and give Him the time to get my thinking straight.

My challenge to you is to STOP, turn off the TV, social media, and movies and just sit in your thoughts on purpose. Our thoughts are what’s leading us to crazy or sanity. Spend the time needed with God to unload your burdens and to just see what He fills you with.

Here is something that brought a smile to me today....