Rest

I'd love to see what my 2013 travels look like on a UK map. I imagine it looks something like a crisscross of highlighter up, down and around the country. It's been a whirlwind of adventuring - often chatting to people for only a few hours before leaving, or sometimes meeting old friends and introducing them to a little of what my internship entails.

I'm currently in Durham; not for work, but for pleasure. A rest period after long weeks and weekends. At the time of booking, I felt a holiday would be luxurious, excessive and unnecessary; especially as others would still be working hard. 

It's fair to say I'm not very good at relaxing and I felt a bit guilty for taking the time away.

My lent Bible study is becoming a refreshing habit; this week I was struck by this part: 

Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
 
Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Mark 6: 45-50 

Because Jesus took time out of his schedule to pray. To be alone. To rest. And the Bible also teaches that rest is a vital part of our life. Genesis introduces a day of rest; the seventh day. And not just that; because these days could actually be periods of time rather than set 24 hour structures. And seven is a holy number. It's no coincidence that it's the seventh day that's for rest. And no coincidence that Jesus's rest period was also his prayer period. 

To rest is part of God's plan for us as humans. But it's not just time to feel guilty; it's time to praise God for what he's done, and to trust what he's doing. 

The story continues, because Jesus consequently walks on water. Being God, he could probably have done this at any point, but how interesting that it's after this rest period that he's strong to walk on water and aid his disciples. And that's what he does. "It is I. Don't be afraid." Even Jesus needed time to rest before acting out his role on earth.

And if even Jesus needed to do this, so do I. 

This time is a rest day. Not just a day but a period in which relaxation is of the essence. And it's vital before moving back to what God's calling me to do.