July 15, 2015

“Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest awhile.”
Jesus, Gospel of Mark, 6:31

Those words uttered by Jesus come shortly after he was rejected in his home town where he could do no deeds of power.  Those words come shortly after Jesus sends the twelve disciples out into the surrounding villages to preach the gospel, cast out demons and heal the sick.  Jesus and the disciples have been busy.  Jesus and the disciples have had to deal with handling pressure and people in a variety of circumstances.

After the rejection, after the mission, after the constant demands of their time, Jesus calls the twelve to a mini retreat – “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest awhile.”

There are days (or weeks if you read the previous Wednesday Word) where things seem to constantly crush and wear you down.  Whether it is coworkers who constantly try your patience, family members who treat others in less-than-loving ways, small outside projects that turn into major overhauls sucking out the joy, or a seemingly never-ending litany of interruptions, complaints and problems with no answers, at some point we begin to feel like we are, or have, come to the end of our proverbial rope.  And it seems like, despite all of the gadgets designed to make our lives simpler and easier, our lives are actually getting more complicated, frenzied and stressful.

We are told over and over in hymns and pithy sayings of one sort or another to “follow Jesus.”  For many people that involves trying to love our neighbors, turn the other cheek, feed the hungry, clothe the naked and speak for the voiceless.  And those are all good and holy things to do, or strive to do.  But too many of us miss out on hearing these words, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest awhile.”

I have a book on my shelf called, Too Busy NOT to Pray.  It was written by Bill Hybels, founder and pastor of the original mega-church, Willow Creek in Chicago.  While I don't necessarily agree with his theology, churchmanship or methods, this book is a good reminder that, no matter how busy we think we are, we need to commit to times of prayer.  We need to remember to not get caught up in the busy-ness of life and remember to participate in the business of spending time with God.

Where are you in your life?  Do you have too many commitments wearing you down?  Do you have too many people trying to get a piece of you?  Is the clutter of life in general keeping you from participating in the presence of God?  We all get there.  We all have “those days” or “those weeks.”  There are times when we all wonder what we are doing this for.

If that is you, take time to slow down.  Take time to pray.  Take time to do a spiritual inventory.  Take time to follow Jesus.

Come away to a deserted place all by yourself and rest awhile.

Amen.