Waiting for Our Souls

There is a story that shows up in many places. It's about a traveler who was on safari. He had brought his maps, timetables, and tents. Porters from a local tribe were carrying his cumbersome supplies.

On the first morning, everyone woke early and traveled fast and went far into the bush. On the second morning, they all woke very early and traveled very fast and went very far into the bush. On the third morning, they all woke very early and traveled very fast and went even farther into the bush. The American seemed pleased. But on the fourth morning, the porters refused to move. They simply sat by a tree. Their behavior incensed the American.

"What's the matter? Are they tired?" He asked the translator. "No," replied the translator, "they are not tired. They have traveled so far from home so quickly that they have to wait for their souls to catch up with their bodies."

We have so many things to do in our 24 hour days. There is work to do, groceries to buy, meals to prepare, people to visit, bills to pay, and the list goes on and on. We think we need to be busy.

In Mark 6, Jesus gave his disciples authority, then sent them out by two in order to preach and cast out demons. When they returned (Mark 6:30) they were all excited to tell Jesus what had happened. But there were so many people coming and going, so many distractions, that we read this in Mark 6:31.

Then, 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.”

It seems there is a need for quiet and rest. Time studies have shown that taking a break every couple of hours makes an employee more productive than if they are required to work straight through.

Yet "Peace and quiet" don't end up on our daily lists, do they? That just doesn't fit with what we think we need to do!

But Jesus calls us to come to a quiet place and get some rest. We need to do that in our relationship with Jesus. A quiet place where we can spend time with Jesus can be very refreshing to our soul. Sitting in the sun with the Word of God, talking with Jesus about whatever is on our minds. The Holy Spirit can gently breathe rest and freshness into our weary souls.

We need to do that in all our human relationships, too. Beth and I were driving one Sunday afternoon and she mentioned that we hadn't been out to the lake in a long time. I headed that way, and we pulled down into the parking lot. It was a beautiful spring afternoon. With the windows down in the car, we just sat and listened to the waves slapping the shore, the boats humming across the water, and watched the sail boats with their triangle sails glide across the water. We talked. We sat in silence. We rested. Months later, we both look back on that lazy afternoon as something we want to do again!

Don't forget to come apart with Jesus and the other people in your life and get some rest. Take a break and let your soul catch up with you! It will make you a better person!