My post in January reflected
on “rest” as my word for 2020. Words from the book of Matthew helped plan my
thoughts.
Matthew 11: 28-29—"Come
to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my
yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you
will find rest for your souls.”
Here is part of what I said in
my January post.
“I admit the yoke of the world, its ways of life, can weigh me down. This yoke is too much and difficult to bear. These days, with so much sin, confusion and disorder being tolerated, I want to fade away. My thoughts taunt me by saying I don’t feel safe and I don’t fit in. The temptation to find a place to run away can be a difficult invitation to resist.”
Now, as the end of the year
draws closer, rest is still a need. I admit as I write this post; I am tired.
I am tired:
- · Tired
of not being with my family
- · Tired
of my church family being split up for now
- · Tired
COVID-19 cases increase daily here in British Columbia
- · Tired
of a consequence of my diagnosis of extreme obstructive sleep apnea continues
to affect my ability to concentrate
- · Tired
of Zoom meetings and events because I find them a challenge to concentrate on
- · Tired
of people and their agitation toward healthcare professionals
- · Tired
of not being able to sit in a coffee shop and people watch and write
- · I am tired of noting things that cause my tiredness
I find the reality of rest found in God is a process. I am getting there, but I have not arrived. Matthew 11:28-29 speaks to me. The promised words embrace my soul. “…I will give you rest… you will find rest for your souls.” The words remind me of my deep need and a promised gentle rest. This is not an elusive emotional longing, but a stated result of an honest heart after God.
Throughout this tumultuous
year I can still laugh, rest, love, and write. I relate several of my writing
projects to emotional healing. I wrote a four-part series on writing as healing
for InScribe’s, FellowScript Magazine. This offered time to reflect on the
power of writing to be an aid to emotional healing. I also began a writing
project that has been brewing in my mind for years. I mentioned this in my
August 22 InScribe post (Plant Them a Garden: A Work of Reflection and Poetry
by Alan Anderson). I look forward to sending this book into the world in 2021,
Lord willing.
God has given me the privilege
and call to be a writer. I write to give people hope in the presence of grief
and hardship. I find rest when I write. I hope what I write gives God pleasure.
I am tired and I have found rest.
InScribe family of writers, in
what way does what you write impact your life?
https://scarredjoy.ca/
I'm glad I'm not the only one who's tired. I'd rather be retired instead of plain old tired. Even so, I find my rest in trusting Christ. I'm sure we all do the same.
ReplyDeleteHi Bruce! You make a good point, Bruce.
DeleteLike you, I am tired as well. I'm not sure what could or would have prepared us for this shift in our lives but it certainly is weighing on society in so many ways. We all need rest from the chaos that Covid19 has brought with it. I look forward to your new book. Blessings, my friend!
ReplyDeleteHi Vickie! Yes, we didn't know what to expect with this worldwide change. We don't have to let this weigh us down to the point of despair however. Thank you for encouraging me in my book project. By the way I noticed I made a mistake in the title. The title is, Plant Them a Garden: A Reflective Work of Grief, Faith, and Poetry.
DeleteRest is so important, not just physically but letting our minds be still amidst the turmoil that is life. I also like that the word REST is used in the bible to mean settling into one's 'resting place' (like when they children of Israel reached the Promised Land. thanks for your constant encouragement Alan.
ReplyDeleteHi Tracy! I love to think I can encourage others the way our group encourages me.
DeleteYour words bring hope, Alan. Thank you. To answer your question, writing energizes me and gives me a purpose. It helps me re-focus from fear to having a message for people.
ReplyDeleteHi Pam! Your sense of purpose energizes me, my friend. Keep on writing!
DeleteWhen you need comfort, Alan, may you run to that safe place where God can gather you and your loved ones under his wings, where you can safely abide and find rest. I also love Jesus’ words recorded in Matthew 11:28-29. These words are also written in my mind and in my heart. Our God is a God of comfort and peace.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing how you found rest in the midst of all that happened this year, Alan! How often I turn to Matthew 11:28-30 and like you, "The words remind me of my deep need and a promised gentle rest. This is not an elusive emotional longing, but a stated result of an honest heart after God."
ReplyDelete