Exodus 34:21
Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even in plowing time and in harvest time you shall rest.
This morning, as I started typing this devotional post, I accidentally added an extra 'e' to 'Rest,' and saw the word, 'Reset.' Auto-correct didn't fix this, since the mistake created a real word. But I started to think about how 'rest' is a way to get a 'reset' for our lives.
As many of you know, the last two weeks have been busy for me. First, I took a bus trip to Kansas City, KS for a three day Leadership Institute convention, to learn about ways to help people experience God in their lives, and help churches connect to their communities. After the long bus ride home, I discovered 4 people on the bus came down with Covid, but luckily I wasn't one of them. Then I travelled to Eau Claire for a two day seminar on how to launch a new worship service to connect new people with God. Lots of travel, lots of great new ideas, lots of tiredness for me!
Normally, I take Fridays off each week as my Sabbath day, but this week I took Monday. I needed it. I couldn't feel enough energy to start my week. I needed not just 'rest,' but a 'reset.' I needed to take time to catch up on my regular home routine. Today (Tuesday) I am feeling like I have 'reset' back to my normal routine and I am ready to dive into my weekly tasks.
God knows that we need routine and rest - and even times of 'resetting.' God took the seventh day as a rest day after creation, and God set the example for us. The Ten Commandments call for day of rest and connecting with God, and our reading today from Exodus reminds us to rest, even in the time of our fall harvest.
Now, I know farmers. My husband's family farms in Indiana. It is really, really hard to get a farmer to rest during harvest! But let's be honest - isn't it hard to get all of us to rest? Maybe it's the kids' schedules, maybe it's work, maybe it's yard chores or family care. There are times we all struggle to take a day off each week to rest and reset our lives.
God loves us. God knows what we need. God knows we need rest. Feel free to follow God's example, and find a way to rest every week. A reset may be just what you need.
Amen.
Pastor Anna-Lisa Hunter
October 10, 2023
Pastor Anna-Lisa at a Prayer Walk station in Kansas City KS, Church of the Resurrection.