Because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31 (NIV)
Living on a sailboat allows me to escape busy schedules and noise a couple of times each year. One of my favorite destinations is Wallace Island. It’s a provincial park with a protected cove for safe anchorage. It also hosts hiking paths so we can explore forests and beaches.
Each morning dawns with quiet. No cars, no sirens, no airplanes flying overhead. We sit in the cockpit and read our Bibles with no distractions. Each day ends with a panoramic sunset reflected on the water. Again, we sit in the cockpit and watch God paint a masterpiece on His canvas.
Escaping now and again to a quiet place is good for both body and soul. Even Jesus recognized this to be true. He created us from dust, and He knows our human limitations. We can work and serve and rush to and fro only so long before our bodies say, “Enough.”
The rest to which Jesus refers is more than a good night’s sleep. It’s pulling back from responsibilities, doing something different from the norm, and being refreshed from the inside out. It’s escaping to a place where we can be still and think with a clear mind and regain perspective. It’s providing a space where He can speak to us without competing with electronic gadgets.
I used to think resting in this way was a luxury I couldn’t afford. Now I consider it as my yes to His invitation to “come with Me . . . and get some rest.” My quiet place is a secluded cove. What’s yours?
Faith Step: Put your feet up and close your eyes for five minutes. Enjoy resting in God’s presence.
