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I've been thinking a lot about pastor James' sermon about "fallowness" this week. First of all, I was struck by the sermon because I don't think I have ever been to a church that honored "rest"-especially during the Christmas season. Usually Christmastime is when the church programs increase astronomically and the list of "you must do this or that or the other thing in order to really experience joy this season" is so long that I got worn out just thinking about it. So this idea of restness being part of God's plan and how He integrated his restful nature into everything he made, including the very ground we walk on, was a really wonderful, newish sort of thought for me. By nature, I am not an incredibly busy person, nor am I lazy. I have learned since I was young that in order for me to remain sane, I need to do productive and creative things and interact with people AND I need time to be by myself, take a walk in nature or spend time staring at the ceiling.
I can feel when the balance is tipping one way or the other because I either start getting more forgetful, loony and can cry at the drop of a hat, or the other way, my mind starts going numb and my brain and body beg to be employed. Spiritually, it is the same way. If I start doing things for the Lord...and keep doing and doing and don't spend some time resting in Him, I feel myself resenting the church, getting angry at God and wanting to give up on life. "Resting too much" for me equates to skipping church or not serving in any capacity, reading my Bible less, forgetting to think about the Lord throughout the day... The cycle's extremes are very familiar.
But I loved James' sermon because it made me recognize that there is a rhythm to life. I like that idea because it reminds me of music. Music has boistrous, booming sections and delicate, lyrical moments as well as steady syncopation or silent pauses, called, fittingly, "rests." What makes music work though, is the consistent RHYTHM that drives the music, directs the notes and rests and determines how long or how short those notes and rests are to be held. Without the rhythm, the "music" would sound only like chaos. So with God, who is "not the author of confusion, but of peace," he is the rhythm directing our lives. I started thinking that I really want to be more attuned to God's rythm. I have a vague idea of how to hear or feel God's rhythm more in my life, but maybe others have some ideas?
Anyway, since moving to Tucson, Christmas-time has been very blah and dreay for me. I have been praying about it since 2005, wondering where I may have left the joy of the season and why it changed when I moved here, but I still am not quite sure. This "fallowness" idea made me wonder if it is the key to that particular question, but I have also started implementing certain things to avoid my joy being stolen. So in answer to James' last request for ways in which we "rest" during this season here are some of mine:
1. Since I hate shopping and it stresses me out to no end, I either make some gifts or I make a point to shop one or two days only, usually a few days before Christmas
2. Large stores overwhelm me even on a good day so I only shop at the small, independently owned stores like on 4th Ave or the museum gift shops. (the downtown art museum is a nice place to buy gifts, there is a small toy shop on Broadway and there is Antigone books on 4th) That way I am also supporting local businesses
3. I put up white Christmas lights and get a real Christmas tree because light and the smell of pine make me happy
4. Traditional Christmas services and hymns fill my heart with glee and peace so if my church isn't having a Christmas eve service or I am out of town, I find a traditional service, complete with candle lighting.
5. I rest a lot, take a lot of walks outdoors in the crisp air and bake yummy things.
6. I PARTY!!!!!!!!!! Taking time out for Christmas parties (or just hanging together) with friends and family is part of my "fallow" ritual.
Merry Christmas everyone!!!! And thank you, P. James for the sermon. And thank you Village and Villagers for existing! |
