Many of you will remember the most famous clip from “I Love Lucy” with Lucille Ball, “Lucy and Ethel in the Candy Factory.”
In this amazing clip, as you will remember, Lucy and Ethel have gotten jobs in a candy factory. Their job is to take candy coming down a conveyor belt and wrap each piece as it comes by. It works out all right at first, but the candy starts coming faster and faster and Lucy and Ethel find it harder and harder to keep up. They work as fast as they can, but the belt keeps getting faster and faster, and they get further and further behind. In desperation, Lucy begins stuffing candy in her mouth, in her pockets and finally even in her blouse. But no matter how hard she and Ethel work, they still can’t keep up. The scene is hilarious . . . as long as it is happening to someone else. That’s the essence of comedy, isn’t it? It’s funny . . . as long as it is happening to someone else.
Sometimes we find ourselves feeling like Lucy and Ethel, with things coming at us fast and furiously from all directions. Some of you may feel that you are in that kind of situation–at work or at home. Life is coming at you way too fast, and you can’t keep up. You need to get away at least for a little while for a rest.
Richard Fairchild tells us that when the machine gun was first invented a problem developed with it. It seems that if it was fired continuously for a period of time, the barrel would heat up and cause the gun to jam–even, upon occasion, to explode. At the beginning two simple solutions were arrived at to overcome this problem. You could either change the barrels–or you could stop firing for a while.
Some of us are like that machine gun–we need to quit firing for a while. We need to get away and let our barrels cool.
In Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 we read about a time when the disciples have been hectically busy. Mark tells us of the disciples returning from the mission on which they had been sent. They return full of enthusiasm, having had their first taste of success, with lots of stories to tell.
But Jesus gives no reaction of interest in their apparent success – no “well done, look at the opportunity for further success that is here in this crowd before us.”
No, in the midst of the disciples’ enthusiasm for doing more, Jesus senses their weariness. He knows they need to let their barrels cool. Jesus himself knows that weary feeling – since sending them out he has learned of the grisly murder of his cousin, John the Baptist, by Herod. He has had no time to deal with his feelings, for like the disciples, he has been so besieged by crowds that there has been no time to eat.
Jesus saw the strain and weariness of the disciples. He knew that they needed to marshal their strength for the days ahead. And so, he said, “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest awhile.”
Jesus issues the same invitation to us when the demands of life are wearing us to a frazzle. “Come away for a while…rest…take time to get in touch with me again.”
That’s an invitation our society makes it difficult to accept – we feel so guilty doing nothing — there are always things waiting to be done. But Jesus sees our strain, our weariness and says, “Come away.”
Larry Burkett, in a recent magazine article, used the analogy of the Pony Express. As you know, for a few years in the Wild West, mail was dispatched across this country by a relay system known as the Pony Express. Occasionally an express rider would be attacked by Indians. Because his big mount was stronger than the Indian ponies, the rider could spur his horse to a gallop and outrun his attackers before his horse would tire.
This scenario wasn’t repeated too many times before the Indians changed their plan of attack. Realizing they couldn’t outrun the express rider, they wisely stationed some of their number every few miles along the route. Then, just when the rider had outrun the first group of attackers, the second band would appear, causing him to spur his horse on without rest. This tactic was repeated until at last the rider’s horse would collapse from exhaustion.
Sometimes we are like those Pony Express horses. We get one crisis resolved and here comes another. We need to hear Jesus’ invitation to “Come away and rest awhile.”
Philip Melancthon, the great Reformation theologian, once said to his friend Martin Luther, “This day you and I will discuss the governance of the universe.” What Luther said in response was unexpected: “This day you and I will go fishing and leave the governance of the universe to God.” Luther heard Jesus’ invitation to “Come away…”
One man challenged another to an all-day wood chopping contest. The challenger worked very hard, stopping only for a brief lunch break. The other man had a leisurely lunch and took several breaks during the day. At the end of the day, the challenger was surprised and annoyed to find that the other fellow had chopped substantially more wood than he had. “I don’t get it,” he said. “Every time I checked, you were taking a rest, yet you chopped more wood than I did.”
“But you didn’t notice,” said the winning woodsman, “that I was sharpening my ax when I sat down to rest.”
According to a Greek legend, in ancient Athens a man noticed the great storyteller Aesop playing childish games with some little boys. He laughed and jeered at Aesop, asking him why he wasted his time in such frivolous activity.
Aesop responded by picking up a bow, loosening its string, and placing it on the ground. Then he said to the critical Athenian, “Now, answer the riddle, if you can. Tell us what the unstrung bows implies.”
The man looked at it for several moments but had no idea what point Aesop was trying to make. Aesop explained, “If you keep a bow always bent, it will break eventually; but if you let it go slack, it will be more fit for use when you want it.”
People are also like that. That’s why we all need to take time to rest. Start by setting aside a special time to relax physically and renew yourself emotionally and spiritually. You will be at your best for the Lord if you have taken time to loosen the bow.
Two willow trees grew a short distance from a stream in New Mexico. One of them was sturdy and rich with leaves, while the other was smaller and less attractive. Over the years the owner of the property wondered why the two trees should have such a different quality and appearance. Unable to find an answer, he dismissed the puzzle from his mind. One week while digging near the trees his shovel struck something hard.
When uncovering it he solved the mystery of the trees. Years earlier, someone had buried large slabs of a stone wall in the spot. The underground wall prevented the roots of the frail tree from reaching the water in the stream. But there was no wall between the flourishing tree and the water.
When we do not give ourselves time to worship God – when we do not spend time communing with God and having fellowship with God – then we are like that tree that was shut off from the life-giving flow of the stream.
Jesus says to us, “Come away…rest awhile.”
We need to find a way to really experience God’s presence, to hear God’s guidance for our lives, to communicate with God. We need a time for listening as well as a time for telling. A time for letting go of our concerns and a time to allow for God to fix whatever needs to be fixed in our lives.
An unknown author put it beautifully. She asks, “Ever wonder about the abbreviation ASAP? Generally, we think of it in terms of even more hurry and stress in our lives. Maybe if we think of this abbreviation in a different manner, we will begin to find a new way to deal with those rough days along the way.
There’s work to do, deadlines to meet, You’ve got no time to spare.
But as you hurry and scurry, ASAP – Always say a prayer.
In the midst of family chaos, “Quality time” is rare.
Do your best; let God do the rest, ASAP – Always say a prayer.
It may seem like your worries are more than you can bear.
Slow down and take a breather, ASAP – Always say a prayer.
God knows how stressful life is, He wants to ease our cares.
And He’ll respond to all your needs, ASAP – Always say a prayer.
When was the last time you stole away just to spend time with God? Finding a quiet place means a place where there are no distractions from other people, your career, loved ones and friends. When was the last time it was just you and God one on one? God wants to fix what’s wrong in your life, but you’ve got to give Him that chance. Do it today. ASAP – Always say a prayer.
Accept Jesus’ invitation to “Come away to a quiet place and rest awhile.”
Your sister in Christ,
Linnea K. Gustafson
Interim Minister at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer & Zion Lutheran Church
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of The Kewanee Voice.
