“Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matt. 11:28b-30 MSG
I encourage you to visit the beautiful resources provided on the Conference website to explore our need to be reminded we are connected to God in many ways. We can find new and renewed ways of being aligned with God through Creation (https://nccumc.org/creation/season-of-creation/).
I tend to be what is often termed in the military “a hard charger,” which means I push myself to the limits in pursuit of excellence. The narrative has defined my life given by the world and inherited by my family and military service ethos. An ethic of relentlessly pushing outwardly to the upper limits seems noble. Still, if not reflected upon in the light of salvation, it can become a badge of honor if not careful. The kind of twisted honor that leads to idolatry – where I begin to think my efforts are the source of salvation for work, for problems, and for all that I encounter in life. Worse, it can lead to a false note that if I would just do good, I would be good – you know, self-salvation! The problem is constant ‘hard charging’ can lead to burnout and fatigue that diminishes my capacity to enjoy my relationship with God and the gift of work.
A week ago, I had the opportunity to spend a day at the beach watching the waves roll in and out. At first, I felt a little guilty for not tending to the endless emails, phone calls, and other responsibilities that dictate my daily existence. Yet, while I watched the waves, I was reminded by the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit that I too can lean back into the saving grace of the loving arms of Christ and have my mind, body, and soul replenished for the journey ahead.
“our hearts are restless until they can find rest in You” – St. Augustine
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