You’re exhausted, unable to move forward, unable to concentrate or think what comes next, yet your blood is pounding—celebrating your success. Your mind races. It fills with all that you have accomplished until it tells you all that you have left to do. Your heart tells you that, yes, you succeeded but there is more—so much more to be done. And your body? Your body wants to collapse in exhaustion and you hope never again to hear the words, “Help me please,” or “I need…” or “Please, just one more.”
Have you ever been at that point in your life? once? Twice? weekly? Daily? I think we can all relate. You have accomplished all that you can, and you feel good maybe even great. But still, it isn’t enough. There are always more demands placed upon you, your time, and your resources; and despite popular opinion, you are not the Energizer Bunny. Your battery has zeroed out like your laptop or phone that you forgot to charge, but unlike those items, you can’t just plug in and recharge. Or can you? This week’s Gospel gives us a similar scenario. The disciples return to Jesus. Where have they been? Aren’t they always with Him? Funny that you should ask. That is the lynchpin of today's Gospel reading. Remember Jesus sent the disciples out two by two as Apostles to heal, teach, inspire, and minister in his footsteps. He sent them out on their own with no resources other than what they had learned, and their faith. No food, no money not even a change of clothing. They went out to preach the Kingdom of God. And they did it! They return to Jesus, full of stories; excited, pumped, exhausted, stumbling over each other in their eagerness to share what happened. But as the adrenaline wears off, they collapse. They are exhausted and dropping in place.
Jesus says to them “Come with me by yourselves” He doesn’t say “Go by yourself” He includes himself and they all get into a boat to cross the lake. One assumes that they are going somewhere to get away from all the demands. However, they are met on the other side by the crowds of people and work continues. So, the rest they needed to carry on? It is the quiet time, those minutes spent with Jesus in the boat. Jesus, through his compassion, gives them that time. That is what today’s lesson is all about—finding, no, making time to connect with Jesus through prayer, meditation, scripture reading, singing, dancing, whatever works for you, but time alone with Jesus. Being with Jesus in your “boat” so that you are ready to start again. Jesus, in his compassion, is there not only for the disciples but for each of us.
I want to share with you a portion of a commentary (blog) that I subscribe to. Sarah Bessey is a wonderful writer whose reflections and books on faith-filled life I have found inspiring. As she says, this is for when the day has been a bit long and your patience has been a bit short. It is a reminder, that life is always good.
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