Good morning…
Moonlight peeks through the shutters above our tub. “Another full moon is on her way,” I think, noticing the slow passage of time.
I am grateful for the tiny bladder of our little thirteen year old dog, Gracie. She takes me outside in the middle of most nights. Without stepping barefoot into the dark, cooling air, I would miss the exquisite smells, sounds, and sights of each ordinary night.
I learned a new thing while on spiritual retreat: there is a difference between sleep and rest. At 2:00 am, I am not sleeping, but I am resting. I feel blessed to write our blog posts from a deep place of rest.
“Rest is good,” say my notes from the weekend away. “Rest is very good. Rest, we need rest. Put feet up. Walk leisurely. Notice the birds, the trees, the moon. Take time over breakfast. Savor each taste. Plan time in the day to just be, to hang out with God. We want to fix ourselves, so we rush past rest. Sleep is different. Exercise. Fresh air. We know we need these. Please don’t neglect your need to rest.”
Jesus whispers in Matthew 11:28-30 (VOICE): Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Put My yoke upon your shoulders—it might appear heavy at first, but it is perfectly fitted to your curves. Learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. When you are yoked to Me, your weary souls will find rest. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.
I walked away from the weekend with three words to guide. St. Ignatius of Loyola teaches this truth: as we are nearing the center of God’s will for our lives, his voice will sound “sweet, light, and gentle.”
Sweet.
Light.
Gentle.
As we rest in our center, might we sense the scent of God’s lead?
…Sue…
P.S. These three words remind me of the wisdom shared years ago by Dr. Cathy Snapp, as we sat on a rustic porch in the North Carolina mountains: “When we are following the lead of God, it will feel like ‘ease, flow, peace.'”
Sweet. Light. Gentle. These words connect us to God’s “ease, flow, peace.”
Even if you have not made a reservation, please join Cathy and I today as she speaks from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm at the Cathedral of Christ the King. Come all who are weary and burdened and you will receive rest.
