Thursday, March 2, 2017

Resting Like Winter

   
    I saw the birds flying in a V making their way back north in the middle of February. This has been the warmest Winter I can remember and yet I am not celebrating. I didn’t realize how much I liked the snowy days of January until all I received were rainy days. Winter as my daughter's science notes stated last night: is a time of rest for plants and animals. Normally I don’t see a fly until late April and yet I saw one buzzing in the window last week.

    Living in the Midwest usually affords a good taste of all four seasons. I don’t think I realized how special this opportunity was to have bugs actually die or go into hibernation until mid-spring. I don’t know about you but by September I am ready to see the little creatures disappear for a while. With the children constantly leaving the door open flies are a problem. Gnats seem to repruduce on the apple cores I find discarded under beds and in the crack of the couch. Gross! I know but this is the life with children.

    I saw a Robin roosting in a tree as I went on a walk this morning. Yes, Spring is on its way and with it the return of color. I love the sage greens and the light pastel colors that begin to decorate the gray world Winter in the Midwest leaves behind. It is like a new hope is born each April.

     I have often wondered if the birds have the right idea of migrating to the south in the winter. Thinking of the Florida beaches with their white sand and warm breezes I have been tempted to follow them. Still, there is a principle that Winter offers us that Florida does not understand, it is to give “rest” to the land.

    When the snow comes pouring down there is nothing more delightful than a cup of hot cocoa or tea, a warm fire, and a great book. When the wind is howling outside families gather to play board games together because all other events in their usual busy schedules are canceled due to weather. On such days the grocery stores are jammed with people buying extra things for the storm. Children press their faces against the window praying for enough snow to play in, sled in, and snow angel in.

But alas this year we just got rain.

     It is important to rest even if there isn’t a snow cancellation to give you permission. Rest was important to God in the week of creation. He set aside the seventh day to rest from his work as an example for us. Ironically I have spent many years under the bondage of the idea that a minister’s work is never done so I rarely rest. I am not happy about this habit, but it is hard to allow for rest in my life.

    From Creator God’s example, I believe rest must be something we plan to do. It cannot be something that we merely hope for because for many of us we will never get to a place of rest. I am starting to learn: to find rest I must first trust. I must trust the Lord to cover the demands of life I am resting from for a short time. Like the birds flying back north after the cold winter the Lord will guide me back to the things I need to do most. For a season can I trust him to allow me to rest?


  So if I finally cut out time to rest, what does that look like? I have often been frustrated at friends and family that have looked me in the eye with concern to suggest that I should "take it easy." In my lack of experience with rest, I couldn't even imagine what that meant. 

   Rest is not vegging out to a good TV program, though I have labeled such activities "rest" many times. It is not doing yard work or folding socks. It is sitting down and breathing in the breath of God. It is clearing your schedule to hear from the One who created you. It is taking the time to remember what makes you tick, by drawing closer to the One who designed the ticker, 

    To find rest is to draw near to God. And in those rare moments of getting a glimpse of who we really are through the eyes of the One who has intentionally made us for greatness lies the deepest sense of living this life can afford.