A DAY OF NON-REST
image courtesy of photobucket.com
He called it “margin,” but I quickly figured out it was another sermon, at least in part, about the Sabbath. The preacher made some good points, put things in a little different way, but I’d heard the song before – knew it by heart. I flipped over to Genesis then Psalm before he mentioned it, I showed my wife as a kind of smart aleck gesture for a smile during church.
Alas, before long I was settling into the day of rest… literally. My eyes were ready to follow the rule to the “T,” felt like someone strapped tiny weights on my eyelashes. I tried to shake it off and looked around to stay alert only to find others with similar problem. Some of the eyelids couldn’t hold open under the strain and gave in.
It dawned on me that my eyes were trying to shut down in order to shut my ears down. Truth has a way of closing eyes, ears, and minds…
It was one of those “bad timing” topics. I had told my wife ahead of time, “I can’t go to Sunday School today – I got too much to get done.” (yes, my everyday grammar is that bad…) As I sat in church before my ears got set ablaze, I thought about my day. A day of non-rest. I planned a quick lunch then back to work on a presentation that was due hopefully by Monday. I’d press hard and get it done in two or three hours.
The lacrosse team was going to be over around 5 o’clock to review game film. I knew I’d be too busy to get anything typed to post so I’d planned to dig back into my blog archives and do a repost for Monday. Then my mind wandered into the old posts.
They say timing is everything… It certainly was for me that Sunday. Unfortunately for me and the majority of people I know, we’ve bought into the lie spoon fed to our society; “If some is good, more is better.” I’ve found that more is rarely better, at least in the ways our society has sold it.
We’ve bought into the lie that our peace and joy can somehow be bought and paid for… Nothing is further from the truth. Peace and joy aren’t for sale.. They’re free, yet some of us will never attain what it is we’re searching our entire lives for. It’s lunacy – it’s like searching for oxygen under water. As we gain wisdom with age we begin to comprehend even in greater clarity that most often less is more… Some of us are just a little less wise that’s all.
I fulfilled my obligations. The presentation was ready for Monday and the game film analyzed and discussed. I was too busy putting out fires on Monday to deliver the presentation. The time spent on film came to be of no use, the team improved by different methods since that time. I didn’t gain a lick by wasting my day of rest…
I did, however, make it to Sunday School… My hypocrisy does have a hint of a conscience…
Now if I could just wake it up…
Wednesday, June 27, 2012 @ 2:02 am
So…as a pastor I can say that the reason people nod off while I preach is because they have too much to do? LOL
Wednesday, June 27, 2012 @ 7:32 am
Funny I was thinking of you when I wrote this too. I think it’s because we want to tune out the things we don’t want to hear… but we are listening… Must be nice to have God so on your side!!!
Wednesday, June 27, 2012 @ 5:22 am
There is something about Sunday afternoons. No matter what plans I make or tasks I want to complete my body almost always forces me to stop and just rest. I don’t know why I even make plans for Sunday afternoons.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012 @ 7:33 am
My thoughts are that His hand is on you giving you what you need…
Wednesday, June 27, 2012 @ 8:07 am
Been there, done that- frequently.
I find my mind wondering during prayers to what needs to be accomplished.
I’m so guilty.
Working on this, but it seems an uphill struggle…mainly because I can’t seem to let go.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012 @ 10:20 am
Thanks TC. Nice to have know I’m not alone in this either!
Wednesday, June 27, 2012 @ 1:12 pm
When people nod off when I’m preaching I just choose to believe they’re shaking their heads yes in agreement…works for me! Love your honesty bro’ and we need that margin, that day of rest…doesn’t have to wait to Sunday either.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012 @ 4:47 pm
Thanks Jay. I needed to hear that sermon… my hunch is that when someone is tuning out that’s the precise reason they are…
Wednesday, June 27, 2012 @ 5:27 pm
I have heard it said that if we do not set aside one day for rest – – that eventually it will catch up with us health wise and we will end up with an extended rest that we did not apply for. So perhaps we should take that day of rest and actually kick back and even take a nap (at home – not at church.)
Wednesday, June 27, 2012 @ 5:54 pm
That last line is too funny Hazel! I’m working on getting better at it… The funny thing is, I know that generally speaking nothing good can come out of disobedience… Just thick as a brick I suppose… Thanks again for the wisdom… I can’t remember when I had a nap last?
Wednesday, June 27, 2012 @ 5:54 pm
Funny! Randy always sits in the pew with his eyes closed. He IS listening but doesn’t like all the distractions that tend to go on, either on the TV screens at the front, or with the congregation. I can do it too. I know it appears rude.
However, we never nod off and snort like some people I’ve seen…Ha ha!
You know, God’s kids tend to cram-jam everything into their schedules just like the rest of the world and forget to “enter into that rest”. We are to labor to do so. It is a fight – why? ‘Cause it is easier NOT to. So many Christian people I have spoken with lately are not “in rest” – they are not peaceful people and they wonder why they can’t hear God’s voice. I wonder. As for me, I’m always bringing my mind and body back into a place of balance. I’m making it a habit when I get up, to check with God to see how HE would have me order my day. Some days it turns out completely different than I had originally planned, but I got lots more done! I’m not perfect at it, but getting better. Zzzzzz…
what’s that, Lord? Oh yes, thank you for Floyd!
Wednesday, June 27, 2012 @ 6:08 pm
You’re too hilarious Nancy! And Randy listens to the sermon with his eyes closed… Uhhh huhhhh… Just kidding! I’m getting better at it too, but I slip back into bad habits. I spun my wheels for years trying to get ahead on the Sabbath day… That’s like trying to arm wrestle with God… defeat is inevitable.
Thanks for the fun and uplifting comment, joking or not, that last line is encouraging.
Elbow Randy for me…
Wednesday, June 27, 2012 @ 6:31 pm
You are a brave man for posting this knowing your pastor friends will read. Remember they were not alway preachers, pastors, they had their day in the pews. Easy to tell from their comments they are gracious men of God.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012 @ 6:50 pm
That they are Betty. I did freely confess my opinion is that people tune out often when it’s something they don’t want to hear… that’s why I had to listen and try to take heed… Well as best I could. I’m blessed by all the gracious men and women of God that visits and leaves bits of their wisdom… and thanks for yours as well.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012 @ 10:17 pm
I relate with you about long days. Making it a point to attend and be focused at church is sometimes hard but it’s so essential.
Thursday, June 28, 2012 @ 7:08 am
It is hard, that’s why I push toward it. The hard things are always what we need, or at least the things that draw us away from truth are always the easy things. Interesting how God turns the hard things into the sweetest of times… Thanks for relating Dan, I appreciate it.