September Slow Down

 

In the first chapter of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus wanders away from his disciples three times to breathe and be alone.  The first happens right after the baptism, when God’s voice says, “You are my Son, whom I love, with you I am well pleased.”  Remember, at this point, Jesus hasn’t performed any miracles, preached any sermons, or cured any person who was ill.  God’s unconditional love wasn’t based on accomplishment or achievement.  God’s grace is given not for doing but for being.  Jesus received God’s blessing, and then we read, “At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.” (Mark 1:12-13).  First, this wilderness retreat was sounding so good until Satan showed up and spoiled the moment.  Second, the holy truth is that when we try to rest, retreat, and restore ourselves, there are temptations that call to us to “get back to it!”  Some voices clamor and create a cacophony in our minds, pointing out that emails are piling up, laundry needs to be folded, and these morning meditations don’t write themselves.  There is the script we swallowed from the culture that says, “to rest is to rust”.  Keep going, hustling, moving.  Suddenly, Satan isn’t some creature in a red suit with a pitchfork and pointy ears, but anything that lures us away from being in our belovedness. 

 

When you take time to rest, renew, and refocus on your relationship with God, what does your inner voice shout, trying to motivate you back into doing rather than being? 

 

Does that voice sound like a parent or boss?

 

What would God say in response to the script that demands and decrees you “earn your keep” around here?

 

You may want to go outside to sit under a tree to have a conversation with yourself about where there is resistance to rest within you.  As you reflect on the last four weeks, what have you picked up on slowing down and Sabbath that could be a healing, holy prayer practice in our lives in these days?  If Jesus slowed down three times, how might that be a model to sing to our souls?  Let these questions sing to you this day and week.  Amen.