What I’m Thinking: Resting Time

Jesus worked hard to bring healing to his neighbors and friends. Then he stepped away to rest and refresh.

Doesn’t that seem like a good example to follow?

Here’s a transcript:

I’m thinking about the first chapter of Mark’s Gospel – still (Mark 1:29-39). The reading for this coming Sunday is continuation of that from last Sunday, in which Jesus had cast out an unclean spirit during worship in a synagogue.

So after the synagogue service, Jesus left with Peter and Andrew and went to their house. There they found that Peter’s mother-in-law was sick with fever. Jesus healed her. After sunset the other residents of the village began to bring the folks who were ill or needed some other kind of assistance to Jesus and Jesus proceeded to heal all through the evening and the night.

But then he went and he found a solitary place, or at least a place away from everyone else. Eventually his new followers found him and said, “Everyone is searching for you.” Jesus joined them and they proceeded not back to Capernaum where they’d been but to start a first tour of the villages of Galilee.

There’s so much here, but it’s that moment that Jesus stepped away from it all that really strikes me. Americans are not terribly good at rest. Neither are folks from many of the other industrialized cultures of the world. The Spanish siesta might be the great exception.

The simple truth is that human beings cannot carry on without rest. There’s a reason why the Sabbath is one of the commandments. It’s because God knows – God knew – God will always known – and God knows we will always know that we need rest.

This pandemic has been immensely stressful for people around the world, those directly affected by it and those affected by its economic consequences. Friends, we need time to rest. I hope that you have been doing that all the way through this, but if not, I assure you that now is an excellent time.

Make some space. Be alone if that’s what refreshes you. Be alone with a friend as, strictly speaking, Jesus was in spending that time in prayer. Make that relationship stronger with someone who is probably at a distance, but pick up the telephone or turn on that video conference.

Make the time and space to rest and renew because there is still more ahead for us to work at, to accomplish, and to strive for. We will need our rest.

That’s what I’m thinking. I’m curious to hear what you’re thinking. Leave me your thoughts in the comment section below; I’d love to hear from you.