Just returned from a wonderful time of rest. I chartered a cruise for the first time in my
54 years, for seven whole days, no less.
Even did this, sort of, last minute with a friend. Of course, the trip would be wonderful; beautiful
scenery, new things to see, laughter with a treasured friend, rest and
relaxation. But, I discovered a few
basic ingredients of my trip that I desire to replicate into every week.
What was the resounding theme of my week? Beauty and rest. I couldn't get enough time to observe,
experience, absorb God’s incredible beauty in creation, friendship, and life
itself. It refreshed my soul more than I
could ever have imagined. It’s not like
I haven’t relished in God’s creation before and laughed with a friend. I take pictures
of vivid rainbows, drive to the beach just to smell the salt water, stare at the sweet face of a sleeping
child, and take pleasure in a dull feathered sparrow flitting about my feet
looking for crumbs. I laugh with friends
and praise my Father. Beauty surrounds
us each and every day. Yet, the key to this refreshing beauty was
that I truly rested in it.
Living off
of a memory of beauty and rest is just not acceptable. I’m giving myself permission to vacation each
week, to make my Sabbath rest meaningful and rich. And, this is how I’m going to do it.
I’m going to unplug for a specific time frame. The time will vary based on life, I know, but
unplugging is a key component to being sensitive to greater things around
me. No phone calls, no emails, no texts,
no Facebook, no computer, no Internet, no game apps, no TV, no agenda, no
interruptions (if at all possible J). Zilch!
Unplugging allowed me the freedom to wander in the beauty
around me and in me. Beauty beckons our attention
every moment through creation, the gift of our family, breath, the ability to
move or create. God relishes in the gift
of me, his greatest creation. I desire
to relish in the gift of me and my life each day that I am given. My life is profound because God breathes it
into me. I matter! Pain, sorrow, and struggle are real
components of most of our days on earth, yet living with the foresight that
Jesus is our Overcomer and Victor keeps my eyes on the beauty around me. I’m going to schedule time to unplug so that
I will be ultra-sensitive and aware of life, a beautiful life.
My next goal is to enjoy creation. Do we practice and live out the fact that
creation was made to glorify God and for us to rule over and enjoy? Consider these truths about God’s beautiful creation:
Variety.
Immense variety screams from each created thing. I swam with and held wild stingrays out in
the middle of the ocean, whose eyes were gentle, wings soft, and barbed tails
threatening. Amazingly beautiful, unique,
and one of the countless.
Accuracy.
An observer would identify exact detail of God’s creativity under a
microscope, yet only to today’s current knowledge, which is a narrow view
indeed. Even a blade of grass is a
miracle of perfection.
Power.
Such purpose exists in each created being and thing. I couldn't get over the power of the ocean
waves, the power of the moonlight casting its glare upon the dark waters, and the
power of a good belly laugh with my friend.
Order.
Creation is dependent upon creation, connected and alive. I was comfortable in the warm, clear, azure
sea. I am meant to swim in it and enjoy
it, even if it is not my home. God’s
ordination in and through creation knows no boundaries.
Mystery. Secrets
abound in creation that God has not revealed to man. We know so much, and yet so little. Heaven
will certainly be the most eye opening experience of our life time, to say the
least! Our mysterious, omniscient God
longs for our perseverance in finding and knowing him.
My goal is to purposefully rest in beauty, creation, and the
wonder of my connection with all of it.
Finally, and possibly most profoundly, I am purposing to be
still. Be still and know that He is
God. While on vacation, I was unplugged,
enjoying God’s creation, and I became very still in my soul, but it took time. Do you want to know where my heart's gaze kept retreating to? Heaven, eternity, trusting Jesus, living for
the moment and for the right reasons.
Isn’t that a natural progression, if you think about it? Unplug by leaving the world and all its
distractions, expectations, frustrations, sorrows and regrets, and agendas
behind, enjoy what God has created around us and in us, and then rest still. What emerges out of rest? Thankfulness, trust is strengthened, joy is
returned, the power of God’s truth becomes alive, our souls are nourished. Stillness is
movement.
What did Jesus do when he needed to be refreshed? He walked away, found a quiet place, prayed, and
drew strength from his relationship with God the Father. When being still,
prayer becomes more fluid, for lack of a better term, more organic. I didn't pray from a list, even though lists
are great! Out of thankfulness,
rejoicing, need, stillness, I listened and prayed. I was unplugged, yet incredibly
connected.
Business is not a spiritual gift. We may feel like it sometimes as it is
esteemed by man and strokes our egos.
Yes, we’re created to do good works and that takes energy, time, commitment
and perseverance which create business. However, as Mary, who rested at Jesus’ feet and was doing the greater thing, we
too need to rest from hard work. I don’t
imagine that any of the disciples were dreaming of a week’s vacation out in the
ocean? Instead, some experienced
shipwrecks! Profoundly though, they
gained strength from hanging around and living for the only One who could
provide true rest, Jesus. Our strength
and energy comes when we sit with Jesus. Our hearts are in critical condition if our business turns us into
producers only for the kingdom of God.
Jesus must have been pleased with Martha’s duty as well as Mary’s
obedience, but sitting with Him was the better choice.
God rested after creation out of his pleasure with the
manifestations of his own glory.
Weariness was not the reason for the seventh day. His glory had been revealed, and it was good!
Then he appointed us to keep a day of
rest holy. God authored the Sabbath rest,
completely blessed by him. In our Sabbath rest, we honor the omnipotent Creator,
celebrate His Son, and are touched by His Spirit. Stillness is a purposed gift we transfer into
the hands of a loving God. We honor him,
and the result is He blesses and restores us! An incredible two-fold gift!
“Keep the Sabbath day holy.
Don’t pursue your own interests on that day, but enjoy the Sabbath and
speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day. Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on
that day, and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly. Then the Lord will be your delight. I will give you great honor and satisfy you
with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob. I, the Lord, have spoken!” Isaiah 58:13-14
During the time you take your commanded Sabbath, your rest,
unplug, enjoy something God has created for you, through you, and in you, and
be still to certainly confirm, hear from, and know your God. Make your time away from this world, a
vacation day. It will prove to be your
needed vacation of a lifetime.
