The rain falls softly on the patio roof. I can hear the patter of the raindrops. The house is dark and quiet. The others are resting. But I am in need of your care. My heart is weary. My mind is muddled. I can’t see my way clear. I can only be where I am, barely surviving.
In the clear blue sky during the day, the sun is harsh on the New Mexico landscape. The air is hot, dusty and dry. The flowers wilt and the trees brace for the heat. Nature is holding its breath. It is hanging on. For soon the night will come and with the night will be cooler air and a little more humidity. With the energy from the sun the plants dare to grow. The animals brave the open. And time is still as they work to gather enough energy to make it through another scorching day.
I know how they feel. The seemingly stolen moment when I can relax for a bit. When I can ignore my reality for a short time. When I can possibly smile. And try to gather strength to survive another day.
And then it comes. The rain. It brings life. The plants drink it in and blossom overnight. They are truly growing and not surviving. They have life giving water to drink. They have rest.
In the same way I turn to you Jesus. I am tired. I am worn out. I feel burned out by going to church but finding no relief. Show me how to recover my life. Show me how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work patiently with me until I see how you do it. I want to learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I want to understand and learn to live freely and lightly. I want to rejoice in your greatness. I want to bask in your love as the plants do in the rain.
You are my life giving water. Water me.
Lord, I know that sometimes I just don’t listen to you. My mind gets filled with all of the things that I need to do, my responsibilities, my cares, my worries. I get distracted by people and their lives. I get distracted my body’s fatigue. But I want to listen to you. I want to hear you talk and I want to hear you explain things to me. I want you to go over it line by line so that I understand in my heart and my mind how very much you love me. I’ll just sit here and listen to you.
Matthew 11:27-30 Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. “The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge.
No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I’m not keeping it to myself; I’m ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen.
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?
Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest.
Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
