Monday, September 14, 2009

joyful rest

9.4.09 stage one

i took this picture last week at a park in our neighborhood.  the band played and these two men danced with the kind of joy we often only see in children. inspiring exuberance that captures the idea of living "freely and lightly."   speaking of joyful, creative play...

if you couldn't make it to our sunday gathering this week, here's  what we took time to reflect on:

last week the gladdings led us in a reflection on work and labor. This week we thought it might be good to dwell on rest and play. The story of God makes it clear that we were made for work and play. Behind both these elements of our life is creativity. We believe in a God who is remaking/ recreating heaven and earth and as re-made people we join with this good work – in our LABORS and our PLAY. As a community we want to say that we esteem creativity and Sabbath rest.

One thing Sabbath is NOT…it is not collapsing at the end of a crazy week when you have nothing left. This is ordinary rest and often necessary. Sabbath rest is only creative in the context of a balanced life. A good analogy here is money/tithe…we don’t spend like crazy and then apportion 10% and imagine we have lived well. Just as all our financial resources belong to God, so too does all our time belong to God. We need rhythm and balance if Sabbath is to be creative.

Jesus invites us into this dimension of life...

MATTHEW 28:28-30 (the message)    "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

check out this wise woman for a provocative 6 minutes that is well worth your time and attention.

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