Refresh: Rest

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” — Matthew 11:28-30 

Jesus reveals for us more clearly than anyone or anything else who God is. And in this passage, Jesus is revealing God’s deep desire to give us rest. “Come to me. I will give you rest.” Rest is a gift, an expression of God’s loving kindness and compassion towards us.

When I think of this passage, I remember the feeling of tenderness I have when I look at my sleeping kids. When our kids were small, we lived in England, in a tiny flat above a three-car garage on a ten-acre property. By this garage was a beautiful big beech tree. On summer days, it gave us a most glorious patch of shade, the perfect place for a nap.

Sometimes, when Adam and Johanna were tiny, I would stretch duvets and pillows under the tree and that’s where they’d have a nap. Sometimes, if my kids fell asleep in the car, I’d go upstairs, get the blankets and pillows and carry them down and make a little nest for them. Then, I’d ever so slowly unbuckle them and carry them over to the blankets to let them sleep. I can still feel that tenderhearted love in my heart as I gazed upon their little frames, all tucked under the safety of that tree. I loved to give them this gift of rest.

In these moments, as I watched my kids rest and made it possible for them to rest, I was feeling in my heart the heart of God,  who loves us with such tenderness, and loves to give us rest. Rest is a gift God particularly longs to give us when God sees we are weary and heavy laden. Again, this gift of rest is an expression of God’s loving kindness and compassion towards us.

Can you think of a time when you felt that kind of loving kindness and compassion in your heart towards someone? When you saw someone who was weary. Or burdened. And you longed to give them a safe, warm, quiet place to rest? 

Now, what if you directed that same tenderness and compassion towards yourself? What if you gave yourself the gift of rest, as if you were caring for yourself with the same intention and kindness you would show a weary child? What kind of rest do you need this week?  If it’s hard for you to receive this gift from yourself, or to offer this gift to yourself, what makes it difficult? If you do practice resting this week, notice how you feel after you’ve rested?  Notice how it resources you for the loving and labouring you do. 

Deep peace and blessing,
Anne

Rev. Anne Baxter Smith
Pastor, The Church at Southpoint 

PS. Our summer theme is “Refresh”.  This Sunday, Brent Unrau led off with an exploration of Rest. Next Sunday, I’ll explore Play, with some special guests from our congregation. On Sunday June 25 we’ll practice both at Redwood Park at 10:00 am for our June All OUT!  See below.