Did your week fly by, again, so that you wonder how on earth we could possibly be half way through October? And you when you consider that next year is 2025 you remember the Y2K panic and simply cannot believe that happened a quarter of a century ago?
Does it feel like someone needs to stop the merry-go-round so that you can bring all the blurry stuff into focus and settle your insides?
Do you wish you could get away from it all and rest?
Jesus felt the need to get away from it all and rest.
And what is "it all" anyway?
In the case of Jesus, it was1:
~death threats after healing someone on the Sabbath day
~constant questioning of his identity by the religious experts
~taking the time to provide a grounded explanation of his relationship to God, all the while knowing his enemies wouldn't get it—didn't want to get it
~receiving news that his cousin (and forerunner to his ministry), John the Baptist, had been brutally executed
~being followed by a large crowd when he just wanted to get away and rest with his disciples
Yes, Jesus intentionally chose retreat and rest. He saw the crown following him, but headed toward the mountain a different direction) to sit down with his disciples and rest.
The only problem is, there was no escaping that crowd.
Does that happen to you? You desperately need a break, even a tiny one, but there is no escaping the crowd—littles who need your attention right now, work deadlines, and the unexpected interruptions— illness, plumbing leaks, storms, car problems, visitors...
What do you do when getting away to rest isn't an option?
Here's what Jesus did:
Jesus lifted his eyes.
And he saw the crowd. But apparently, he saw more than a mass of people. He saw persons.
I imagine this lifting of the eyes to be a pause where you can really see what matters, an opportunity to reconnect with your priorities and heart held beliefs.
Like those beautiful moments when you realize that the irritable person at the checkout line is another human being like you. Or you stop and look your loved one in the eyes, and remember, and really see them.
Jesus lifted his eyes, saw the crowd, and was filled with compassion.
Maybe we cannot rest, but we can lift our eyes and really notice our surroundings and the people in (and out) of our circle in ways that renew our energy and give us love to do the right thing.
Lifting your eyes to notice can pull you out of yourself in the right ways and into yourself in the right ways. It can make you aware of context and ground you with a reminder of what is important to you..
And if we forget? Or, it's just too overwhelming and hard to do that right now?
We are part of the crowd and Jesus sees us. He knows you, he knows me. He has compassion on us. And it will be enough to lift our eyes to him.
I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From where shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth (Psalm 121:1-2)
Until next Friday, may your rest be sweet,
Alicia
Taken mainly from the gospel of John (chapters 5 & 6) with additional details from Matthew 14, Mark 6, and Luke 9.