This Week |
#34 (4-25-04)
Tired!
Most of us understand
perfectly what it is to be tired. Sometimes it is a long day with too many
clothes to wash, floors to sweep, meals to cook, or perhaps we went to
work early and stayed late and the boss was on a tear. Maybe it’s been a
long week with more tasks than we could handle, or a month with no days
off. No matter whether the work is physical, mental, or spiritual, we find
ourselves tired, and we are almost unable or certainly unwilling, to go
on.
In Mark 6:31 (Luke 7:10)
Jesus invited the twelve to a retreat in the desert because He knew they
needed rest and privacy after their tiring ministry and the press of the
people. They were surely disturbed by the death of John the Baptist (Mark
6:14ff) and their journey had been difficult. The Scriptures seem to
indicate that they didn’t get much resting accomplished (at least Jesus
didn’t), but perhaps they were able to secure some time while Jesus went
on without them.
Along with the tiredness
of their experience, there was the hurt that comes from folks who would
not hear their message. People had undoubtedly turned them away, mocked
their skill, derided their commitment, and, as I mentioned earlier, killed
their friend. All of that came together to the point that Jesus knew some
desert time was mandatory.
I believe that our
worship experiences, individually and collectively, ought to be times of
refreshing and encouragement. Sometimes they are not. Our work of reaching
out to the spiritual and physical needs of our community ought to infuse
us with enthusiasm. Sometimes it does not. What then can we do?
How about some time alone
with Jesus? It won’t be a week in Hawaii, but it can do more for the
dissipation of discouragement and despair than any number of weeks in
Hawaii. Taking time to shut out the dissonance of daily life, to absent
our self from the apathy and ignorance of our society’s indifference to
our God-given task, can be therapeutic in the short term.
John Peterson in his hymn
“No One Understands Like Jesus” said,
No one understands
like Jesus when the days are dark and grim. No one is so near, so dear as
Jesus; cast all your care on Him.”
No one understands like Jesus; every
woe He sees and feels. Tenderly He whispers comfort, and the broken heart
He heals.
No one understands like Jesus when the
foes of life assail. You should never be discouraged; Jesus cares and will
not fail. (©1952 John W. Peterson Music
Company)
© Weaver 2004