We have heard much about commitment, about tithing, about giving our time and talents. Those are necessary sermons, preached by a leadership that depends upon a great deal of volunteer labor to make the programs and offerings of the traditional church happen. The most involved, however, very frequently get burned out. Most leadership works an enormous number of hours and at great stress. (While some others do not, I realize.) For most of us who are committed, the Christian life has been one of working, more working… even more working… to exhaustion.

But it does say in the Bible: “Strive to enter that rest.”

I have read over that, prayed over that, and wondered over that a great deal.

A series of challenging incidents, however led to what seems to be a revelation in my life. Stopping, “slowing down” (NOT what my friends mean when they say this, doing less,  but a diving deep into spirituality), connecting with Holy Spirit at a deep level, brings a rest, is a secret place, causes a power that is hard to put into words.

Let’s focus and aim at this sort of rest, connecting with All Grace.  Let’s do faith the way it was originally meant: pistis, relying on, leaning on. Let’s not try to do faith as a work of will, separate from the prevenient (coming before) Grace of God. Let’s not try to do Christian walk all in the head or all in the hand, but dive deep into the heart of God with our hearts. This, after all, is like Jesus. He did work, teaching and healing the crowds. He also took his disciples aside to rest and eat. And he also spent nights in prayer.  I think it was a communion prayer, not must more work, not just getting through some more words, don’t you think? So yes, let’s follow Jesus; lets be Christians, one who shine out Christ.  Yes, let’s do the social work, political work, mothering work, and any other work we are called to do, but let’s first do the rest of connecting with God.

Do you have an experience of this you would like to share?