I start with a disclaimer and a claim. 

The disclaimer is this: I'm not an expert when it comes to resting. For many years, 'working', 'doing' and 'being useful' have come far more easily than 'stopping', 'pausing' and 'taking a break'. But I am learning and changing, slowly. Maybe I could describe myself as a 'recovering workaholic'. 

The claim: I am increasingly convinced that rest is one of the ultimate expressions of the love of God. In so many ways. It is made possible by God's life-giving love for us, and by us embracing our belovedness in all it's dimensions. And when we weave rest into our rhythm of life, it is a way of loving God, and loving ourselves, and even loving others. Yes, really!

On a Sunday in July, our Sunday Service at St Denys explored rest, and a lot of people there said it really spoke to them. So I'm writing this blog in case you missed it, or want to be reminded or are simply intrigued.

Part 1: Rest in the Rhythm of Life

'By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.' Genesis 2:2

Imagine listening to a piece of music you love, but with all the pauses, rests and changes of tempo removed. On Sunday morning, Andy F (one of our worship team and professional musician) gave us that experience. He played Nessun Dorma (made famous by Pavarotti during Italia 90 Football) with all the rights notes in the right order, but without the rests or tempo changes. It was familiar but felt flat. 

But then he played it again, and what a difference!

The second time Andy played Nessun Dorma he incorporated the musical rests, the slowing down and the expression that had originally been written into the music. I think it's fair to say that our souls soared. We felt in our guts the power and beauty of rest and of slowing down.

In reflecting on this Andy said to us, "In music when the performer allows for rests (and for slowing down, speeding up and other things) this can allow the music to ‘breathe'  and become more beautiful, powerful & effective. In music we call this ‘expression’". 

I believe this helps us appreciate an important starting point when we consider rest.

God wove rest into his original plan & rhythm in creation (Genesis 2:2). It did NOT grow out of brokenness, the Fall, or our need for healing (though these things both increase our need for it, and lead to us struggling to embrace it). Rest was part of God's intended rhythm for life before there were problems! His gift of rest enables us to experience life in all it's fullness (John 10:10).

I think this is often missed by people and yet it is so important because it helps us to recognises the value of rest in the goodness and beauty of life. We might view rest as a type of medicine that only has value in helping us mend, heal or recover.  But rather can we see it as a gift that is integral to all of life and makes it more beautiful and meaningful.

Part 2: The Loads We Carry

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28)

I remember in my teenage years preparing to set off for a weekend festival with everything I anticipated I'd need in my rucksack. I stood and hoisted my bag onto my back, and ever...so...slowly...tipped...backwards. I was carrying far more stuff than I needed to. I wasn't capable of carrying it. 

If we use the image of a big rucksack and the items within it to reflect on the burdens we carry through life, I wonder what things come to mind. There are a few ideas below. Notice how they're not necessarily all bad things or problems. But the quantity can be a problem.  In learning about rest over the last few years, I’ve recognised that heavy loads make rest hard (whilst also increasing the need for rest). 

• The things you need to do for others
• The concerns or worries you for people near and far
• The activities you’re committed to
• The big and good events on your horizon
• Financial problems, the need for food or not having a safe and peaceful place to stay.
• The things your children and grandchildren want from you
• Mental health challenges such as anxiety or depression
• That niggling sense of the something not right.

With our own heavy loads in mind, it's really striking that Jesus offers light loads, not a complete absence of loads). (Matthew 11:28-30)

There are many layers to his offer of light burdens. To those striving to 'get it right, all the time' (especially in terms of religious rules and good behaviour), he identifies himself confidentially as law-giver and teacher and offers a yoke that is leads to rest (Matthew 11:29). To those seeking to 'understand it all' and have a wise answer for everything (driven at the time by the influence of Greek philosophy), he identifies himself with Wisdom (Matthew 11:18) and offers a different kind of insight. To all of us who are exhausted and weary by the things we carry through life (often loaded onto us by the expectations of others or ourselves) he offers himself as the one who has the authority to offer a much smaller, lighter burden.

There are two things Jesus knows that ensures his words are not just empty promises. Firstly, he know who he is. Jesus recognises he has ultimate authority because of who he is, the Son of God the Father (Matthew 11:27). Also he has full understanding to make sense of the world and of those of us he live in it. Secondly, he knows who we are. And one crucial aspect of this is that he knows we have our limits, because we are human. Our capacity for carrying heavy loads is limited, not because of the Fall, or our brokeness or our hurt, but simply because we are human. Jesus knows our limits, if only we did!

Jesus understands that we thrive best when we carry small, light loads. 

Just picture yourself for moment, removing from your giant rucksack a much smaller bag, and putting it on your shoulders. That's the load Jesus wants you to carry. I wonder what the things are inside that smaller bag.

Now picture the bigger rucksack that is left behind. I guess there are loads in that bag that worry you, or that you feel guilty for leaving behind. Well on Sunday at St Denys, I dragged that remaining big bag to the empty cross. It was a sign of trusting God with all we cannot carry. We are limited. We are human. He is not. He can carry it all. 

We can rest.

Part 3: Rest & The Love of God

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

I claimed at the start that rest is one of the most significant expressions of the love of God that there is. And the more I learn and stumble, the more I am convinced of this. 

Rest is made possible (especially if it does come 'naturally') by the discovery that you are loved by someone who has the capacity to carry your excess load and who sees & accepts you for who you are (a limited human)

Rest is an expression of us loving God, because in resting you are expressing a trust in him and his capacity to deal with stuff. You're letting God be God (and surely love is about letting a person be who they are).

Rest can even be a way of loving others, although that might seem hard to agree with! When we stop or pause, it gives room for others to step in and discover what they can do. In our gaps, others can flourish.

Rest is a way of valuing ourselves, with the limits we have, and allowing us to taste life in its fullness. It's more than letting ourselves rest, recover and heal (though these things matter). It's also about experiencing the full and beautiful symphony of life.

And all of this is significant, because it is so countercultural. Whilst we have entertainment at our fingertips, possibilities in abundance and empowerment high on the agenda, life-in-all-its-fullness rest that values humans and the richness of life seems to be missing. 

Rest is a gift we have been given by the one who truly knows us and loves us. Let's be a community who gives it to the world.