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Many take time off for summer vacation. The goal is to rest. Whether that happens or not depends on kids' behavior, how long sandwiches last on the road trip, and the weather at the beach.
I vividly recall the camping trip to Florida at age 10. My dad had 13 weeks of vacation that year.
He bought a huge tent and off we went with our green station wagon.
Starting with budget friendly tuna sandwiches, 5¢ chicken wings, and bargain burgers, we first had the exhaust fall off on the DC Beltway. One day, our clothes and tents got wet, so we stayed in a $15 motel for two nights. We thought it was great. Our goal was Florida and we made it as far as North Carolina. We enjoyed Virginia Beach, DC tours, and beautiful Harker's Island. Restful? For mom and dad? Um, at times but also wearying.
Jesus reveals a sense of deep responsibility "My Father has entrusted everything to me (5:27). Odd then that rest would follow – or is it? True rest is described In Matthew 5:25-28, NLT:
"25 At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.
26 Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!
27 "My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
28 Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."
Rest is necessary
Thomas Moore wrote a book "Care of the Soul" where he stated that "the greatest malady of our time, implicated in all of our troubles and affecting us individually and socially is loss of soul." "When soul is neglected," he wrote, "it doesn't just go away; it appears symptomatically in obsessions, addictions, violence, and loss of meaning."
In a world where politics, work, news and media call for our attention even our families find little time for rest. We need rest in our work, our homes and in our individual souls. I need rest: Rest from the codes, rest from the suffering, rest from life's burdens.
When the body doesn't rest, our bodies suffer. When our souls don't rest, our souls suffer.
Rest is intentional – "Come" and "Take" (5:28-29)
Rest does not happen accidentally. We must "come to Jesus" in an intentional movement to God. When we call our cat for food, she intentionally stops whatever she is doing and runs to us. What do you need to turn from to come to Jesus?
Worry, strife, fear or activity consume us. Coming to Jesus includes laying down the burden. Years ago, working as a CNAI, I had a conflict with a coworker who didn't want to work and disliked me. Every day I was sick to my stomach going to work. Finally, I relaxed and realized I can't change her but I can change me and give it to God. Guess what? The problem eventually was solved.
Give your work, your family, your dreams, and your sorrows to God.
The next step then is "taking" up "His yoke." William Barclay tells us In Palestine the yoke was custom made to fit so that it didn't hurt the animal.
When we submit to God the irony is true peace, contentment and rest occurs.
God gives true rest and peace (5:28-29)
"I will give you rest. ...and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."
You can seek peace and rest anywhere you wish, but ultimately it is a gift of God's grace. Yes, we take up our cross, but the promise is life is made bearable because of His gift of grace.
In a restless world, the God of all Grace gives rest and renewal
We have a choice; we can continue to carry all the junk we don't need to and never find rest. Or we can enjoy the best "vacation" in the land of God's presence, provision, power and peace.
Why don't you choose to enjoy a "time of rest" without cost this summer?
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Dan Hamilton is chaplain at Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital.