Mythical rest

Christmas can be all about the hustle and bustle, the vying and buying, the over-consuming and under-preparing. But, as in the rest of the year, we must take time to rest, to think and to reflect. To be. Rest and rhythm is something that I have been thinking about at work and in general life. It is something that underpins the entirety of life and yet is more often than not abused and misused. I freely admit rest has always eluded me. We often feel we need to prove ourselves by our work, that our identity is wrapped up in this. There is always more to do, more to think, more to prove - it is addictive and often feels like a lonely, precarious place to be. And it is the next holiday that we think will grant us the rest that we crave. 

Yet, this end, this rest that we seek is not ever going to be found here. As a wise teacher has cried 'What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labour under the sun? All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest.' I am learning that our work is not for gain: not for riches (although one does need to eat) or our piers' approval and praise. Our work cannot give us the fulfilment that we seek and it will always ask for more, so that rest will always elude us. Work is frustrated just as much as it frustrates me. So I will eat and drink and find satisfaction in all my toil as a gift from God, not as a gain for my fleeting life.

So what about rest at Christmas? Well this year I was asked, regarding my Christmas card activity pack, ‘have you set yourself a benchmark to have to attain?’ But whether it’s Christmas cards or Christmas feasts, the debt of presents or decorating the tree - I think the underlying question is ‘is there grace?’ Is there grace in being OK with not doing all of this and more every year. Is there grace in the feeling of failure that comes with this? Is there grace in forcing myself to always have to achieve and strive and live up to expectations? Is there grace in my personal and other people’s expectations? Is there grace in just being and not doing? Much of the time we don’t give ourselves grace. This is not about me time that often becomes self-indulgent, this is about recognising my limits and reflecting on my motivations behind a task. So to grow in grace and rest well, I have cut down my activity pack: reusing already made prints and colouring sheets but still making the songs and videos that give me energy and joy to create.

My Christmas song this year, speaks of the mythical rest that we all seek and of the rest that the weary travellers in the Christmas story sought in borrowed lowly keep. The rest found by Mary and Joseph, shepherds and wise men was found by the stall of Jesus the child king. It was found in the presence of God who brings a true and eternal rest for those who trust in Him. For this rest that we so earnestly seek here on earth will not be ultimately fulfilled until we reach heaven's gates and see Jesus' beaming face as he gently calls 'welcome home my child, my good and faithful servant'. But the rest that we experience here on earth points towards this goal, a shadow of the light of what is to come. Rest now, speaks of our trust in God's provision. It says 'I will provide for you financially and it is OK if you live on a part time wage for the rest of your life'. It says 'you can stop over working because your work does not define you and neither does your pier's approval'. It says 'I know that you are weary and burdened, so come to me 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.'

So come to Jesus this Christmas, come to the King who found rest in a manger and hear Him softly speak ‘welcome home my child, come and rest in me’.