I See You Spinning Plates There

2. I SEE YOU SPINNING PLATES THERE.

“ Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’”

MARK 6:31

If you really want to see me get mad, come in between me and my food!  What kills me, is I do not protect and keep healthy boundaries around my time, and freely skip out on rest. If you are like me, you need to hear the following: you are not responsible for your workplace to function, and you are not responsible for your church to function! That is a hard reality to actually consider and buy into, especially when you know that things do not get done in your absence. Or they could, but we would have to forfeit our control on the things, and let someone else take care of it or be okay in life if it didn't get done.  In usual fashion, though, the Lord gently reminds me from time to time what I need to be doing, and this time the culprit is busyness. To put it simply, Jesus rested. 

 Our obligations will always look for us, but we have to put into practice the art of the FILL-UP.   When was the last time you planned ahead for a time of renewal?  Do you get enough rest and retreat time?  It's like we think that the one vacation we plan in the summer is all we need. 

Matthew 11:28 TMT

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me- watch how I do it.  Learn the UNFORCED rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."  

The three most important words from this verse are "Come to me."  I think we miss this point all the time. When I am tired, out of options, and hit rock bottom,  I go to him.  "You come to me, you hear that? You don't go to drugs, alcohol, or your own devices- YOU COME TO ME."  Those three words! Rest is a necessity, not a luxury.  Rest is an act of worship, not a sign of laziness.  How did His yoke is easy and His burden is light get lost in translation?  If I don't do it, it won't get done.  But in all actuality, it's not ultimately up to me. It's up to God.  He doesn't need my exhausted, frenzied help to accomplish His purposes.  There is a real danger when we take our eyes off of Jesus and start focusing on what we are doing (or not doing).  We don't draw people to ourselves and reproduce graven images... but yet... that is kind of what we are doing if you think about it long enough.   We  have to pull ourselves away from the chaos to pray, and focus our thoughts on God and not our problems.  We have to go to the mountain and remove ourselves from the crowds.  Jesus was not being mean when He did this, but hearing from the father and reconnecting was of more priority than someone else's emergency.  Jesus knew that resting and spending time with God was the only way that He could  minister to the needs.  Compassion fatigue is real y'all and so is burnout! Stop spinning so many plates! Just because you have gotten somewhat good at it, does not mean it’s good for you.

What plates do you need to let go of in your life?

What are some practical tips for creating space for rest?