Letter from our Minister
Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.
John Lubbock
It’s hard to disagree with those sentiments on a day like today (the late May heat wave – just in case the weather’s changed by the time you read this!). There is something about a lovely summer’s day which gives us permission to lounge about and do not a lot.
Of course, when it’s very warm it’s very difficult to do much. Manual or physical work is hard going and motivation tends to be lacking for other forms of work. You just have to take things slowly – or at least take plenty of time for relaxation later.
Not so long ago there was talk about the work-life balance and the importance of downtime or ‘being’ as well as working or ‘doing’. We sometimes look at Jesus’ life as one of constant ‘doing’ – in part because the Gospels present it that way, and even his ‘being’ times sound like the next item on the agenda.
Yet Jesus was a native of the eastern Mediterranean countries and would have been used to a warm climate, especially at certain times of the year. Although he had plenty of things to do and places to go to, I can’t imagine him rushing around or even packing in visits like a politician in an election campaign.
Jesus comes across to me as someone who always had time. He had time for people and their needs and was genuinely interested in them. He knew when it was important to stay with someone and when it was better “to shake the dust off his feet” if he sensed he was wasting his time.
Of course, the Mediterranean way of life has more of an outdoor focus than ours does. Yet decent summer days give us the opportunity to live outdoors a bit more. They give us the chance to meet our neighbours or residents from elsewhere in the vicinity. It gives us the chance to be more aware of our surroundings and more aware of our fellow human beings.
“Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.” (Sam Keen). I like that! So when the sun next shines with plenty of warmth, stop ‘doing’ and ‘be’ – you might be surprised who and what you discover.
May you experience warmth, rest and peace in your life.
Love Judith