Go to the Quiet
When being busy is a badge of honor
Beep. Beep. Beep.
The incessant high-pitched noise roused me from my slumber. It wouldn’t turn off by itself, so I didn’t wake slowly. I tossed the covers back and pad to the other side of the bed where my darling husband rested.
I pressed the off button and headed to the bathroom for the water glass and syringe. Flush the tube time!
“How’d you sleep?” I asked like I did every morning. I’m consistent. Day in and day out for two years, he took his full nutrition by a feeding tube through the night hours. So, we developed a series of steps that worked for us when we went to bed and when we woke.
Though I’m a morning person through and through, my 2020 retirement should have offered me at least a chance to luxuriate under the covers, stretching and smiling at the sun’s rays peeking through the lacy curtains. Shouldn’t it? But it’s okay, really. Sleeping in for me would only take me to seven or seven-thirty. I’m not losing much. Instead, I start my day by reading — God’s word and a bit of fiction. Sometimes, that lasts until nine a.m. Talk about luxuriating!
In a Bible study, I learned that Jesus gave His disciples five surprising directives during an amazingly busy time. Of course, as it often goes in my faith life, a scripture caused me to come to a stuttering stop. Time for me to absorb an important teaching.
Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31, NIV)
In those 13 words, Jesus says,
Come
with Me
by yourselves
to a quiet place
and get some rest.
Come is an action word. In this context, likely it means to move in His direction. Or is it ‘at His direction’? Or both? This is seriously convicting to me. Even during my Bible readings, sometimes I get distracted and then I’m not actively moving in His direction.
With me should be easy to define. But an Internet search of that phrase is confounding! (accompany, in opposition to, a feature of, and so much more) Of course, Jesus does not confuse. In this context, after “come,” Jesus means to accompany Him. Which raises the question of my heart and my feet — am I really “with” Him, aligned with His steps?
Have you ever followed someone through a messy or tough-to-navigate area? Deep sand, a muddy trail, come to mind. Like when I go hiking on a trail after a rain. It is helpful to place your steps directly into the ones of your leader. This requires incredible concentration — you’re keeping your eyes on both the footprints and the person in the lead.
By yourselves means to step away from others. What do you need to step away from in order to focus on Him? Is it social media or a person(s) or work tasks or something else? What are you afraid of missing out on if you turn your attention to Jesus and His grace and rest?
To a quiet place is unbelievably appealing to me. The world is noisy. My house is never quiet unless we’re asleep. Oh, well, we do have that white noise machine, too. See what I mean!? It’s hard to be still. Even when my body is still, my mind is humming 100 miles an hour.
Recently, I made a simple change to direct my heart to the Lord. You see, several years ago, I gained an earnest aspiration to write. But I had a full-time job. So, as a perpetual learner, I queued up a YouTube video while I got ready for work (you know, hair, makeup, the works). I made wonderful discoveries about writing and publishing from writers and editors.
This listening habit continued into retirement. Though it kept my head busy with useful information, my iPad did not always enable me to spend my time usefully. Because I need more time with God, in prayer and reciting scripture, I’ve spent less time with the iPad. Listening time with Him has flowed from that, too.
Get some rest is an interesting directive. Jesus had only three years to complete His earthly ministry, yet He showed the importance of rest many times.
What is rest anyway?
It doesn’t mean sleep necessarily. When one is told to rest, the speaker is likely suggesting to just stop moving. When we’re on the move, we miss things. We fail to focus on all the signs around us because we are passing them by or our head is turning away.
If you’re a parent or a caregiver, (or just a working human) you know the temptation to over-schedule. There’s so much to do, or so much time to fill. Data from numerous studies reveal that children involved in many activities often turn into burned-out teenagers who no longer have a passion for those activities. This happens to adults as well.
What are you missing? Do you need to stop moving? Are you over-involved in outside activities, family needs, or church responsibilities? Yes, you can do “too much” at church and burn out or even lose sight of Jesus in the busy-ness of that work.
Let’s all slow down. I will if you will.
Father, as the Psalmist wrote, “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Help me rest in You, my refuge. Let me hear Your voice in the quiet place You built for me. Amen.