Rest for the Restless?

Lately I think I’m going in so many directions, my brain is spinning with things I could do ,and things I could write about, I almost can’t get anything done for the number of ideas that I have. Once again I’ve had to start jotting things down, snippets to remind me later so I can focus on the task at hand.

I grow restless in the Fall. The days closing in make me feel as if I must accomplish everything at once, and I must remind myself to rest. Not just physical rest either, but rest of the spirit, rest for the mind and most importantly rest for the heart. Not easy for me, I want to be doing, acting in some way, getting things done!

But resting is “getting things done”, we have to have it. An unrested spirit causes us grief in the long run. That’s one of the things that’s so frustrating about not having found a real “church home” here: I don’t get that sanctuary for the spirit on Sunday morning, not the sanctuary for the heart in fellowship with the church community when we don’t know if we are staying or going….

Anyway I was reading some poetry the other day and ran across this:

The Pulley

George Herbert (1593 -1632)

When God at first made man,
Having a glasse of blessings standing by;
Let us (said he) poure on him all we can:
Let the worlds riches, which dispersed lie,
Contract into a span.

So strength first made a way;
Then beautie flow?d, then wisdome, honour, pleasure:
When almost all was out, God made a stay,
Perceiving that alone of all his treasure
Rest in the bottome lay.

For if I should (said he)
Bestow this jewell also on my creature,
He would adore my gifts in stead of me,
And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature:
So both should losers be.

Yet let him keep the rest,
But keep them with repining restlesnesse:
Let him be rich and wearie, that at least,
If goodnesse leade him not, yet wearinesse
May tosse him to my breast.

And I thought, “Isn’t that the truth? Isn’t our restlessness supposed to point us to the God of rest? And aren’t the things that we substitute for Him not very restful at all? When we have to keep the plates spinning ourselves we quickly weary, but when we let him direct their rise and fall, we can concentrate on the task at hand (which is honestly better suited to our finite minds) and glorify him in the process.”

Come unto me all ye, that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly (humble) in heart: and ye will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 12:28-30

Let my restless spirit this week, be quiet and rest…