Every time I start to get overwhelmed, I am reminded to rest. And yet, my initial response is that I have too much to do to rest. You know the drill. The kids, the job, the house, the family, the friends, the church, the place you volunteer down the road, or even the shelter downtown - they ALL need you!
Guess what? They do need you! Without you, there will be no one to fold the laundry, help with homework, kiss the boo-boos, build friendships, give to the church, or volunteer in the community. But, here is the big news flash! You don't have to do it all at once and you aren't expected to do it all when you are exhausted. We need rest. God designed us to rest. The Creator even rested. God tells us that the Creator will give us rest! So, why do we think that we are special and we do not need to rest? If you are guilty of forgetting to rest and take care of yourself, you are not alone. This has been a skill set I have been working on for quite some time. What is interesting is that many of us simply don't know where to start. Most of us have not been modeled rest or taught well how to rest by our society. So, I'm sharing some small changes I've made to incorporate rest in my life and hope that by sharing my list it may help you to expand your list. Read it through, get some ideas and get some rest!
You may think that it is impossible to get away with God and find rest in today's society with all that is resting on your shoulders. But, it really is possible. And, in the long run, you may just find you are more productive. Or, you may find that the less important things in life just fall right off your list. What gives you rest? I'm signing off to go stretch and then sleep while the dishes await! Happy rest! On Sunday night, I was asked to speak at one of my favorite places, Gallatin C.A.R.E.S. This non-profit started by providing basic needs of food and economic relief and has grown into a place that cares for the soul as well. They have a worship service that meets on Sunday evenings and I enjoy slipping in for worship. I usually go alone but I never leave feeling alone.
This past Sunday night was no exception. I arrived in plenty of time (too much really) and looked like a lost puppy as the volunteers prepped the meal for afterward and set up the sound system in preparation for worship. I read my "sermon" for the millionth time (well, probably not that many, but a lot) and waited. My sinuses and allergies have been troubling this past week (along with nearly every other Tennessean) and so cough drops and water were my friend. I have never shared a full message before. I have been part of a "Youth" or "Young Adult" Sunday where you take turns running the service. But, this was my first "real" sermon. When I was asked if I would speak, my friend had to remind me that I was an "official Lay Speaker" in the church and trained to do this because I was trying to think of someone else who could fill in. But, there was a little nudge that God wanted me to do this. So, I said yes. The message was on 1 John 4 and Love. God's love. And, I can summarize it pretty easily: God loves us so much that Jesus died for us and we are now to love as Jesus loved. Love one another for God is love. And, that is what Gallatin C.A.R.E.S. is all about. They are God's love to the community every day by offering food, services, health care, worship, family and friendship. They offer this to everyone. Aren't we all called to be God's love each and every day? I have been saddened this week by some hateful posts people have made on Facebook and Twitter. I really don't think Jesus wants us to treat each other the way we often do. And, history has not modeled for us well how to treat God's people with love and care. Now, I have learned that you shouldn't say "no" to God. But, at this point in my calling, I do not feel called to pastor or preach. But, as I shared that night, I was reminded that I feel called to share God's love and the message of hope and healing. Funny enough, I awoke to silence on Monday morning. My voice was completely gone - laryngitis had settled in. I have had a few days to think about this message and why it is so difficult for us as humans to model the love to one another that Jesus modeled for us. And, while, I may not have a voice, I do not feel silenced. Because I do not think that I need to shout God's love to share it. Sometimes, I need to sit back and soak it up in the silence so I can remember for myself how much the Creator loves me. Sometimes I need to step out and share it by telling someone about it with a whisper. Sometimes I need to put God's love into action by doing something that looks more like shouting. No matter what it looks like for me or for you in any season, I just can't shake the feeling that God wants us to really love on each other. I mean, really love each other and our differences. Not just pretend like we do when we see each other at the local grocery store. I had a friend make a post "complaining" about the service she received at her local Kroger on Facebook and within 12 hours there were 47 responses debating and defending the pros and cons of the rivaling local Publix and Kroger grocery chains. Why are we so ready to defend our favorite grocery chain but so reluctant to defend God's people? We'd rather beat them down and shout how wrong everyone else is. Speck, meet plank. So, I am going to try to love. I'm going to try to love all of God's people. I will not be perfect at it, I will fail. I will be judgmental and not even realize it. I will be un-lovable at home and away from home. But, I'm going to try and not be silenced. I'm going to try and give God's people the love that God has given me. Even if I have to do it in a whisper. Silence does not get much respect these days. We fill every moment with something and then we crave more hours in a day so we can fill those up too. The quiet moments that so many of us long for (in the car or working out if there's time) are often made more productive or enjoyable with podcasts, audio books or internet radio. But, what about padding your day with a little silence instead of another app? Is it even possible in today's world? God encourages us to seek it (Lamentations 3:26, Psalm 46:10, Job 29:21). But, in a society of high expectations and really smart electronic devices, most of us honestly don't know how to unplug and be silent. And, as we approach a season of well-meaning but sometimes distracting gifts, gadgets and gizmos, it is very easy for all of us to get lost in the excitement and chaos.
Jesus modeled for us how to retreat. So, if Jesus needed to retreat into silence, then surely you and I do as well? The reasons for why should we retreat seem obvious - to pray, to listen for God's voice, to be refreshed and connect with the Creator anew. But, how do we do it and why don’t we do it regularly enough? Even though we recognize the importance of silence, many of us struggle with consistency. How can we face this fast paced world we live in, continue the demands of parenthood, career, friendships, volunteerism, etc. and still follow Jesus’ model to retreat with our Heavenly Father? What are your tricks for being consistent in your quiet time when the pillow is begging you to stay just a while longer? One false assumption that we often jump to is that we can't retreat to silence without dropping everything. We think that we must pack our bags and travel far away to a land without wi-fi in order to retreat. That would be nice on occasion! However, it is not very practical. So, how do we find silence without retreating to the desert or setting our alarm for the middle of the night? Well, it does take effort. It may mean a change in habits and a little more planning or tasks that get put on the back burner. It is not usually going to find you. I think we've learned to comfort ourselves with the noise almost like some toddlers long for their pacifier. But, don't be afraid of the silence. You are likely to receive a great refueling just by eliminating some noise, even if it is just a few minutes at a time. Quite simply, we must make time of retreat a priority to find this silence. I genuinely think that most of us are simply not sure where to start. If silence really makes you uncomfortable (and it does for a lot of us extroverts), start small. Take five minutes in the morning or evening and simply breathe deep and listen. Invite God into your day by reading a Psalm or favorite scripture as you sit in the quiet and reflect or just sit and think through your day (not your ‘to do’ list). You may even be able to use the distractions of this world to settle into your silence before you take the plunge into total solitude. Visit your local coffee shop for a treat and set aside just 30 minutes to watch the people come and go. Notice their pace; take extra notice of those who seem to be enjoying their journey. Taste and smell your hot tea or coffee and take time to enjoy it as you reflect while avoiding the temptation of taking that phone call, text message or email. If you are new to practicing silence, use the crowd and the distractions to your advantage. Then, when you're ready, take the next step and the next toward deeper and longer quiet times retreating for an hour or a portion of your day. You may just find that there is a giant breath of fresh air and a second wind once you “power off”. When my son was younger, I was lost when his nap times came to an end (my quiet time). But, I later learned of other moms who instilled a mandatory quiet time. I think this is a great way to model for our kids that we can take just a few minutes out to read a book, do a craft or just simply rest. Get creative and include your family so that you can enjoy your quiet time. Believe it or not, you don’t need a desert. You don’t need an egg timer or meditation chimes (although I’ve used both and I would enjoy a trip back to Sedona). You don’t even have to clear your mind (thank goodness!). Silence is actually an opportunity to hear things you may have never heard before or see things you may have never seen before. It has the ability to heighten all your other senses. Try it this week. You may find that you actually like it and realize that Jesus was onto something big! Thomas Merton noted, "Our being is silent, but our existence is noisy". Claim some silence for yourself and don't let your existence get in the way today. |
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