We recently returned from a trip that was full and satisfying. However, it was not a vacation. Let me elaborate just a little. I believe the goal of a vacation is to provide a change of pace and, usually, location, that gives a person (or family): 1. Decompression; 2. Joy (include fun here); 3. Rest; and 4. A Reset. There are certainly other ways to think about a vacation, and other values or goals that one could discuss related to a vacation, but this will do.
A trip, on the other hand, is a broader term. A vacation is often a trip, but a trip isn’t always a vacation. This last trip was full of joy (purpose #2 of vacation), but it didn’t include any decompression. Let me define what I mean by “decompression” here. Decompression is the pause that provides one with the opportunity to shed preoccupation with work and other responsibilities and, as a result, release some or much of the stress carried in the body and mind. There was also not a lot of rest, we were pretty busy most of the trip (good busy, but busy).
“Why,” you say, “are you sharing this?” Fair question. I have been meditating on biblical idea of rest. We often think of rest as physical rest – sleep, “down-time,” etc. While Scripture seems to include this, there is more. One of the most familiar and comforting passages on rest in Scripture is Matthew 11:38-40. Notice that as Jesus defines rest here, he includes the phrase “rest for your soul.” This is instructive, I think. How does our soul get rest? Well, the body resting is one aspect to be sure, but gaining perspective, diminishing the pressure of expectations, and nurturing the soul are all part of this as well. Let me share just two practices I am working on:
Worship: Worship (I’m thinking of personal worship primarily) lifts our souls to God and reminds us that there is a bigger world – a supernatural one – than the one we are most often aware of. Let me mention three (of many) ways this is helpful: 1. Worship reminds us that our job isn’t to make everything perfect right now, so breathe; 2. Worship reminds us that we aren’t trying to achieve God’s purposes on our own; 3. Worship reminds us that God is bigger than our “now.” How do you worship? Listening to or singing along with Christian music? Verbally sharing thanks to God for things He has done? Verbally acknowledging the character of God – the things that are true of Him according to Scripture and that we have seen demonstrated? Writing poetry? All these good exercises shift our perspective of reality to a more biblical one.
Confession/repentance: Walking in repentance has been significant for me personally. Growing up in a conservative Christian context it was (and is) easy to become more concerned with my own moral effort than with the wonderful grace of Christ. Mind you, I’m not suggesting that we don’t work hard at obedience, but simply that we remember it is Jesus who saves us, not our hard work at being good. When I accept (unhappily) that I have not yet been glorified, it takes the pressure of performance off me and allows me to be more gracious and patient with myself and others and to live in a more dependent way (i.e., trusting the Lord).
I will likely reflect more on this in upcoming posts, so stayed tuned as my own understanding sharpens…
Pursue Christ – He is enough,
Pastor Jeff
