Tag Archives: Rest

Green Pastures

Eastertide

May 8, 2019

Scripture Reading: Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
   He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
   he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
   for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
   I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
   your rod and your staff—
   they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
   in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
   all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
   my whole life long.

My mother was most at home in a garden or anywhere around grass or flowers or growing vegetables or trees. She had two maiden aunts that live near her while she was growing up and I think they had a big influence on her. Apparently, they provided many of the flowers for funerals in their hometown. Mom could immediately identify most flowers and trees. She maintained her yard and garden well into her 90’s.

My brother and sister both lived on farms and worked in the town where mom lived. My sister would have lunch with her, and my brother got in the habit on running by to check on her on his afternoon coffee break.  On one of those visits as he turned into the driveway, he saw Mom lying in the yard and his heart rose into his throat as he jumped from his truck and ran to see if she was all right. She did not know why he was so distraught. She was just resting. It was a beautiful day. She had been pulling weeds out of the lawn (she did not like to use weed killers) and just laid back on the grass to rest for a while before she finished her work. She truly was lying down in green pastures, most likely saying a prayer thanking God for the beauty of the earth.

The Psalmist tells us in the above scripture that God makes us lie down in green pastures. There is, indeed, times to work and times to play but we all need rest for not only our bodies but also our souls.

Prayer: Lord, abide with us when you see the need for us to lie down in green pastures to restore our soul. Renew in us the joy of our salvation. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Living in the Spirit
June 6, 2017

Rest for the Soul

Scripture Reading: Genesis 1:1-2:4a

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation. –Genesis 2:1-3

As I experienced life in broadening context, I discovered various types of rest are necessary to re-energize different aspects of my being. I learned about hard physical work in childhood on the farm, and in high school and college when I worked as a nurses aide and as a waitress. Being physically worn out makes sleep come easily unless one’s body aches so bad he or she cannot sleep. Days off are a haven for sore muscles.

Resting one’s mind has different challenges. My mind runs full speed ahead none stop when I am awake. Sometimes its busyness keeps me awake. I read somewhere, sorry I do not remember where that the best form of rest for a busy mind is not trying to empty it but to distract it for breaks by making it work on something other than its main focus. Counting while taking a walk or riding a bike is distracting. I must confess I have, however, walked many additional steps because I stop counting and move back to whatever subject was at hand. I hope I am making progress. Completing Sudoku’s helps me more than anything to change my focus. I find after I have rested my mind, it works better. Sleep is also very important for a restless mind.

Do we need rest for our souls? Certainly, we do. Spending time with God, listening for God is soul resting. Music helps me along this path. It is no wonder to me that Near to the Heart of God is my favorite hymn.

There is a place of quiet rest,
near to the heart of God,
a place where sin cannot molest,
near to the heart of God*.

Prayer:
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
sent from the heart of God,
hold us, who wait before thee,
near to the heart of God*. Amen.

*First verse and refrain of Near to the Heart of God by Cleland Boyd McAfee see at http://hymnary.org/text/there_is_a_place_of_quiet_rest

All scriptures are quoted from the new Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.