REST
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
From Pauses for Lent by Trevor Hudson:
Most of us know what it means to feel fatigued. Fatigue ambushes us when we work too hard, when we get up too early and go to bed too late, when we try to balance too many demands, or when relationships cause conflict and pain. It comes when we live beyond our physical, emotional, and spiritual means.
In the midst of our daily slog, Jesus wants to gift us with rest. Jesus knows the importance God places on rest. After all, not only did God model rest in the creation story but God also demands we rest too.
Rest has many different ingredients. Besides stopping work and learning to relax, it also includes getting adequate sleep. When we do this, we find that we live more joyful, creative, and fruitful lives. When we don’t, fatigue takes over and brings failure in many areas of our tired lives.
Spiritual Practice:
Use Matthew 11:28 as a breath prayer, repeating it over and over in a prayerful attitude and posture. Allow these words of rest to settle into the body, mind, and spirit. As you go about tasks during this unusual period of time, reflect often on how your body feels. Give your body the rest that it needs! Receive this rest as a gift from God!
-- Reverend Dr. Pam Rowley
