International Presbytery of the Church of Scotland
Yellow brick road, Kino, Rotterdam (Photo: Irene Bom)
“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”
~ St Augustine of Hippo (feast day August 28)
More from St Augustine
Evening prayer #1
3 Ancient Prayers
In Mark 6:31 we read how Jesus, at the end of a busy day, ministered to his disciples’ need for rest and restoration, saying:
“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
Are you in need of some rest and restoration yourself? Hear Jesus speak these words to you, and follow his lead.
(based on Matthew 11:28-30)
Come, all that are weary, all that are carrying burdens so heavy
Jesus will give us rest
Come, take what Jesus has to offer: love, forgiveness, and grace
Christ will give us peace
Come, find rest, and learn from Jesus
For our Savior will give us rest in our souls
Come, let us worship our God
Let us follow our Savior, who leads us into life.
~ written by Rev. Mindi, and posted on Rev-o-lution.
(Photo: Kate McDonald)
If you search on the word rest you’ll discover, as I did, that it appears in all kinds of unrelated words, like interested, forest, wrestling and restore – each word containing a world of meaning of its own.
I like that unrest and restlessness are somehow related, and yet substantially different. Unrest generally has negative connotations, while restlessness has mixed overtones. A holy restlessness and an unholy restlessness are both feasible, but unrest feels far removed from God’s good intentions for us and the world. Still unrest might be a truer reflection of what is going on under the surface, and God has been known to use unrest to bring about necessary change.
Here is a morning prayer by Dietrich Bonhoeffer that features both restless and restore. In prayer we can bridge the two.
O God,
early in the morning I cry to you.
Help me to pray,
and to concentrate my thoughts on you:
I cannot do this alone.
In me there is darkness,
but with you there is light;
I am lonely, but you do not leave me;
I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help;
I am restless, but with you there is peace.
In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience;
I do not understand your ways,
but you know the way for me …
Restore me to liberty,
and enable me so to live now
that I may answer before you and before men.
Lord, whatever this day may bring,
Your name be praised.
Amen.
~ by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, posted on cinchreview.com
Extra
The photograph was part of a batch that Kate McDonald sent me to accompany the 2017 Holy Week series. It is somehow linked to a small family-owned farm outside Bethlehem, Palestine and their project called Tent of nations.
Bergsingel, Rotterdam (Photo: Irene Bom)
Recently I took some friends from Presbytery for a walk around my neighbourhood and we passed this very spot. It’s on the way to my current favourite hangout – two park benches where you can catch the evening sun and enjoy the water and wild life.
I hope you have your own favourite hangout where you can catch your breath and marvel at the signs of life all around you and maybe say ‘Hi!’ to the people passing by.
inspired by Isaiah 55 : 1-3
Come to the water, all you who thirst —
come drink deeply from the river of life.
Come to the water, all you who are weary —
come rest in the quiet pools of God’s love.
Come to the water, all you who long for justice —
come be renewed in God’s ever-flowing stream.
For God is here among us,
washing away the dust and grime of our lives,
and pouring out the Spirit on all who thirst.
Let’s worship God together.
~ Christine Longhurst, posted on re:worship
From the blog
Leaving the desert behind
Sabbath rest
When hot and bothered