This past Sunday I had the privilege of speaking at the funeral for a truly great man in our community. A man who loved his wife. Loved his children. Loved his work. Loved his church. A man who brought joy to everyone he met. A man who never said an unkind word about anyone. He was a quiet man. A gentle man. A humble man. The kind of guy who operates best behind the scenes. And yet the impact he had on so many was profound. As hundreds filled the sanctuary to pay their respects to this man and his family, I was moved to tears. What a life! What a gift! What a blessing!
Stephen died doing something he loved...hiking in the mountains. He was a very accomplished and very experienced climber. Careful. Prepared. Never took unnecessary risks. So his tragic fall took us all by surprise. It was a harsh reminder that we live in a broken world. A fallen world. A world that is full of pain and suffering and death. Stephen's death came on the heels of another family in our congregation losing - after a long battle with cancer - a son far too young. It came on the heels of news breaking about more young black men dying and police officers being ambushed. It came on the heels of a terrorist attack in Nice, France and an attempted coup in Turkey. It came in the midst of marriages failing and families falling apart. It came in the midst of jobs being lost and friends losing their homes. Life is just really hard at times.
By the time I got home Sunday evening, I was exhausted. Mentally. Emotionally. Physically. And I know I wasn't the only one. So I sent this brief note out to my church family...
Today we've gathered for two worship services and one funeral. It's been full. It's been rich. It's been good. And if I am completely honest with you, I will tell you I am feeling stretched thin. Burdened almost to the point of breaking. And I know I am not the only one. So many of you have absolutely poured yourself out for others over these last few weeks. You have sent texts, FB messages, and emails. You've called. You've sent cards. You've reached out with food and hugs. You've prepared bulletins. You've arranged flowers. You've greeted and ushered and made coffee and helped prepare a reception. And you've prayed. Oh, how you've prayed! In short, you've been nothing less than the hands and feet of Christ, PEPC!
Now I want you to do just one more thing for me. For each other. For yourselves. Open your hearts to the gift of God's grace. To the affirming presence of the Holy Spirit who says, "Well done." Receive from Christ His strength, His peace, His mercy. Let His steadfast loving-kindness fill your empty tank. As I spoke to many of you today, I could feel the strain. I could see it in your eyes. I could hear the weariness in your voices. You've added all this wonderful, grace-filled work on top of your already busy lives and it has taken it's toll. None of you will complain. None of you regret a minute. All of you would do it all over again if necessary because that's just who you are. So please, take some time to rest this week. To embrace those you love. Take a walk. Breathe deep. Sit in silence. Let the Holy Spirit minister to you as only He can.
The response was overwhelming. The need for rest so apparent. The reminder that it's okay to take a break clearly hit a nerve. In a good way. And I had several folks ask me for guidance and direction on how to rest. Reading between the lines, I gathered they feel trapped. Trapped by their schedules. Trapped by their expectations. Trapped by their fears and anxieties. Everything in them wants off the hamster wheel. Everything in them wants to take the foot off the gas pedal. Everything in them knows the pace they're setting is unsustainable but they aren't sure there's any other alternative.
So let me make a few suggestions...(Note these really aren't my suggestions or new suggestions but a way of life offered to us by a God who loves us and knows what's best for us.)
Keep a Sabbath. The Bible tells us that after God created the heavens and the earth, He rested on the seventh day. Was God tired? Was God worn out? Did God need a nap? No. He rested to set an example for the creatures He had made in His image. He rested to set up a rhythm for His people to follow. Later on, He would teach His people to "Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God." When the people asked God why, He responded by telling them, "It is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you." God gave us the Sabbath as a gift. To slow us down. To act as a speed bump in an otherwise crazy and anxious and work-filled life. He knows what's best for us. After all, He created us. And He created us with a need for rest. He created us to live according to a specific rhythm. Work six days. Rest one day. Work six days. Rest one day. This is the metronome of our lives and we ignore it at our peril.
So what does it mean to keep a Sabbath? Does it mean I get to sleep in? Not do the dishes? No chores? No homework? Who watches the kids? Who walks the dog? Certainly, life around us doesn't stop! Of course it doesn't. And God's people have been struggling with these same issues for thousands of years. And the wisdom they pass down to us after centuries of practice is that Sabbath should involve the following:
- Worship. Gather with God's people to praise God for who He is and for what He has done. Gather to be reminded of His saving death. His Lordship over all He has made. And most of all, His supremacy and sufficiency over all of life.
- Rest. Take a nap. Get some sleep. Enjoy some quiet time. Read a book. Share a cup of coffee with someone you love. Make sure all your chores and lists get done on the other six days so you can truly rest on the seventh. Help your children do the same.
- Recreation. Have fun. Enjoy life with those you love. Eat a good meal. Play outside. Walk the dog and watch him chase after every rabbit and explore every bit of new ground. Breathe deep. Watch the sunset off your porch. Thank God for the blessings of your life.
- Serve. Do the works of God. Find a way to bless others. Maybe it's your family. Maybe it's a friend. Maybe it's someone in need. Jesus "broke" the Sabbath by doing the work His Father assigned to Him. He found joy in serving His Father.
It sounds pretty simple but I find it hard to actually put into practice. You have to be diligent and intentional about guarding and protecting this time. You have to make sacrifices to live according to the rhythm God has set. The world will not make it easy on you. It will do all it can to try and get you to break this rhythm. But before you do...take a look at where the ways of the world get you! Consider carefully what kind of life the world is really offering! Think about what life looks like on the hamster wheel and compare it to life in God's Kingdom.
Next Week: Practicing Hope - Daily Time with God