Good morning…
Moonlight peeks through the shutters above our tub. “Another full moon is on her way,” I notice 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. Take time over breakfast. 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 our 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.
I walked away from the weekend with three words to guide. When 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, we sense the scent of God’s lead.
…Sue…
P.S. These three words remind me of the wisdom shared by Dr. Cathy Snapp as we sat on a rustic porch in the North Carolina mountains years ago. When we are following the lead of God, it will feel like “ease, flow, peace.”
Even if you have not made a reservation, please join Cathy and I today 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.
