 St Alban’s Episcopal Church Bolivar, Missouri Wednesday, November 16, 2022 Rest.  Laying it All Down I am currently in Georgia, where the winter is not ever quite as rigorous as it will be for us in Missouri. Nevertheless, winter will come even here. And winter is the time of earth’s rest. And our own. And when it does come, some of us who are older than most of you, think naturally about death. We are not looking forward to “growing up” – or to starting a career or a family. What we see ahead of us is continued fruitfulness, maturing, aging – the result of a life that is mostly behind us. We reflect a lot on what we have done – or failed to do. We remember the good times and the excruciatingly hard ones. We are aware of our successes and our failures. And we begin to anticipate the life of the world to come even as we perhaps appreciate the life we have right now even more than we ever did before. And for most of us that is not morbid or morose, but joyful. When we think of eternal “rest” we might imagine an eternity of nothingness. But that isn’t maybe the best way to imagine it. What if “rest with the saints” means enjoying forever the happiest, easiest, most peaceful and joyful life together without fear or loss or brokenness or disappointment? What if it is like the rest that comes from being in the presence of someone who is trustworthy, so that we feel safe laying down in their presence all that has burdened or wearied or worn us out?? And what if God, God’s own self is exactly that – so that when we are urged to “rest in the Lord,” we imagine a deep and unending and mutual friendship? Oh, Rest in the Lord (Perhaps you have heard Mendelssohn’s beautiful piece, based on Psalm 37. If not, look it up on Youtube. I am putting it here as it is sung, even though it seems repetitive, so that you can sing along with the music. I sing it often in my mind – and did even when I was young. The rest of the spirit is for everyone…) O rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him, and He shall give thee thy heart’s desires. O rest in the Lord. Wait patiently for Him, and He shall give thee thy heart’s desires. And He shall give thee thy heart’s desires. Commit thy way unto him, and trust in Him. Commit thy way unto him, and trust in Him. And fret not thyself because of evil doers. O rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him. Wait patiently for Him. O rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him. And He shall give thee thy heart’s desires. O rest in the Lord.O rest in the Lord. and wait, wait patiently for Him.    |
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