This has been the theme for the week. It is an ongoing call in my life as I have been learning to live into the rhythms of "be" and "do".
From the "green" book, A Guide to Prayer For All Who Seek God, to a couple of the devotions in Jesus Calling, this has been the theme.
Mid-week Vespers follows the green book for its weekly theme and I'm used to that. Last Sunday I received a phone call asking if I could come up to Dayton, TN for the Still Waters Emmaus Community Gathering and lead the devotion time and communion because I am a spiritual director in their community (and in the Chattanooga Lafayette community). I said "yes" to this opportunity.
As I reflected on Scripture during the first part of the week, Psalm 61:1-4 stuck with me. That came from the green book's readings.
Not only did I have the opportunity to attend a worship service, but I was going to speak on the topic. I also lived it out throughout the week. It wasn't until the latter part of the week, February 6 and 7 that Jesus Calling started off the devotions with the "come and rest" theme.
For me, this week has truly been a "rest" week because it has been my one week off between terms. I finished my J-term and had this one week off before Spring semester starts on Monday, February 9th. I was determined to allow my brain, body, and soul to rest this week. I did begin some of my required readings toward the end of the week, however, upon receiving an email from one of my professors telling us to get started reading such-and-such book if we hadn't yet.
Wednesday night came and it was time for Mid-Week Vespers.
Jim Lewis included a new song in the service that he wrote back in the Fall, "Give Me Rest". That was a perfect song for the theme and service and a very meaningful song. We also sang other great songs that allowed my soul to rest: "Be Still", "O Lord, Hear My Prayer", "I Breathe You In, God", "Releasing", and "Surely God".
The back cover of the bulletin from Mid-Week Vespers shows the six points of the Open Hands prayers that Jim shared this past week and the previous week: recognize, receive, respond, release, remember, rejoice.
At some point during the week I spoke with Valerie Sinclair in Dayton and found out she would be leading music at the gathering Thursday night. I shared the theme and Scripture with her. She shared a song with me that was perfect, "I Love Your Presence"! On Thursday night, she led the worship time with that song she shared with me in the middle of two other songs. Wow! What an incredible time of worship! The other two songs were original songs written by Pastor Bev at her church. She including a reading of Psalm 91 before the last song which tied in wonderfully.
My main Scripture for speaking on Thursday night was Psalm 61:1-4. I also read from Matthew 11:28-30 and Psalm 46:10. Though I had a few notes (literally only words and phrases), I hadn't written much down. Instead, to prepare for Thursday I had lived "come and rest" during the week and Thursday afternoon.
Earlier Thursday my husband Riley and I took off on a hike on Signal Mountain. We parked at the Rainbow Lake parking lot and headed up to Edward's Point. It was a gorgeous day. Clear blue sky and sunny. Though it had been crispy cold in the morning, it was warming up. I hadn't been up to that area in years. The hike was incredible. The running water of the creek and the waterfall from where the dam at Rainbow Lake now runs over. Icicles. The swinging bridge. The huge rock formations. The walk along the top of the brow. The creek with its tiny waterfalls. Lockhart's Arch. The point. The wind blowing through the trees. The squish of mud at times. The view of the river below. The smell of fresh clean air and woods. Silence and solitude. Creation. Time with my hiking partner. Time with my Creator. My soul was filled to overflowing!
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| Alexian Village |
As I looked up at those rock formations, the verse in Psalm 61 kept ringing in my head: "lead me to the rock that is higher than I." There were times that we were below those rocks... and times that we were on top of some of those rocks. There were some rocks I wished I could explore because they had some pretty cool looking shelters inside them. It was enough to be there and view them on this day.
That was probably the best way I could have prepared to share with others on that day. I was able to empty out myself and be filled up by God. My mind, my body, and my soul found rest, refuge, and strength in God through that 4 mile hike and being immersed in the woods.
It was a wonderful blessing to share with the Still Waters Emmaus Community Thursday evening. It was neat to be back in one of my former home churches (Dayton 1st UMC) to speak.
On Friday I spent some time out and about with two other ladies sharing God's love and light, some coffee, and some food with folks in the community. I had the opportunity to meet a former veteran who is recovering from a serious car accident; speak Spanish with someone downtown who approached us only speaking Spanish and seemed surprised to be greeted in his language; play with two precious little kids; and chat with several wonderful folks.
I didn't quite make it to the Centering Prayer group at Grace Episcopal Friday afternoon due to driving time to get there, but that's okay. I spent time on the sun porch in centering prayer. I will get back to community time of centering prayer, but it didn't happen yesterday. That is another way of resting my soul.
This truly has been a week of rest for my soul, mind, and body. Good thing too. On Monday, bam! The semester begins. Three difficult graduate seminary classes to finish out the M.Div., plus my interview with the Board of Ordained Ministry. Monday is going to be a great day. Next week is going to be a great week. The semester is going to be a great semester. It's just going to be a busy day, a busy week, and a busy semester.
I think I will get out some more today and enjoy this great weather. My soul can always use more rest and my body can always use more time out in creation.
What about you? When you hear the call "come and rest", how do you respond? How do you find rest for your body, mind, and soul?
Blessings on your journey,
Debra
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