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The Pastoral Lens
Come Aside Before You Come Apart
Tuesday, October 22, 2002
We live in a world today of overcrowded calendars and too little sleep. We complain about all the time spent on the telephone at the office or home, but wouldn't think of going anywhere without our cell phone. After a full day of work, we're busy wolfing down our supper so that we can take our kids to hockey, or be on time for our service club meeting, or make it to choir practice, or... you get the idea!I grew up in a home where both parents worked, but not at the same time, and my mom was only part-time. We weren't rushing off to this or that every night, either. No, we had quiet evenings at home most weeknights. Thursday night was special as we parked ourselves in front of full bowls of popcorn and watched the Waltons together (I'm dating myself a little here!). We weren't discussing the need for high-speed internet because dial-up was too slow. Microwave meals and take-out weren't supper time staples. My parents asked me how my day at school went and actually stuck around to hear the whole sordid discourse.
Ok, so I'm being a little sarcastic, but I'm trying to make a point. Many of us are just too busy for our own good. Out of fear of perishing from boredom, we crank up the pace of our hectic lives and cram as much in there as possible. The antacid pill has replaced the peppermint as the after dinner mainstay. How can we possibly enjoy ourselves when we are constantly in high gear? Jesus never meant it to be this way. He prescribed times of rest and relaxation to refresh and replenish the energy that busy living drains out of us.
Consider what he said to His disciples in Mark 6:31after a busy time of ministry: "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest a while." (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat). Gee, if only there had been a McDonald's drive-through in Galilee back then they could have eaten on the run and not had to waste time resting! No, Jesus knew what they needed. Too bad we haven't figured this one out yet, huh? Jesus Himself would often slip away to pray and rest, as Luke 5:16 says.
Slowly, but surely, I'm learning this lesson. As a matter of fact, as I write this article, I'm away at a cottage at Ipperwash for a couple of days of prayer and rest. There is no phone here and I don't have a cell phone (yet!), so I can't be bothered. This isn't the first time I've done this sort of thing, and it won't be the last. I need this time to "come aside" and rest. I've realized that if I don't take the time to come aside, I'll soon come apart.
The Lord wants our lives to be rich and full, but not overcrowded and hectic. He has so much for those who will genuinely seek Him. However, you will have to take time out of your busy schedule to allow Him room to come in. Why not find a good church this Sunday to attend and start doing just that. You'll be glad you did. Get prepared to enjoy the rest that He has for you.
