where's the real rest?

July is that time of year when we begin to actually take the vacations that we planned all year long.   We tell ourselves in the bleak midwinter that summer will be glorious.  As we are lacing up the winter boots, our thoughts turn to sandals and walking barefoot in the sand.  Mostly we tell ourselves that we deserve a good rest.  I trust that you have plans to pack a very light suitcase and go somewhere where you can smell salt in the air, eat BBQ and actually need to wear sunblock.

Last week we took a short trip to Portland, ME just to extend the 4th of July weekend and to see the lighthouses, rocky coastline, eat lobster (pronounced lobstah) and pretend that I really didn't have to go back to work.  On our way home, we stopped in the village of Biddeford Pool, found the Audubon Sanctuary, walked the trail, and were rewarded with a marvelous view of the Wood Island Light from a tiny rocky beach.   Needless to say, I did not leave without several photos of the lighthouse.  When I saw this working boat pass by the lighthouse I couldn't resist connecting the lighthouse with the reason for its existence -- the safety of working boatmen.  

When I got home and reviewed the pictures, I found a small slice of life in this picture.   If you look carefully at the back of the boat, you will see one of the fishermen on that boat dead asleep as they sailed past the markers and the lighthouse. (click on the picture to see it larger; use the return arrow to get back)  It reminded me of someone else who was asleep in the boat and could rebuke the wind and the waves (Luke 8:22-25).   How was it that Jesus could sleep in the midst of that storm?  Luke tells us that the boat was "being swamped" and that they were in "great danger."   His disciples included Peter, Andrew, James and John who made their living as fishermen on that very lake.  Their fear was based on experience, a knowledge of the strength of their boat and the strength of the storm. 

After He awoke, Jesus rebuked the wind and the waves - telling them Peace, be still!  (Mark 4:39) - when the sea became calm, Jesus had one question for His disciples ... Where is your faith? (Luke 8:25). 

Real rest begins and ends in faith.  Just like the fisherman in the picture, you have to trust the pilot and the boat to sleep.  How many times have we forgotten that our entire lives are played out in and by His grace?  Is our restlessness a statement about our level of faith or the difficulty of our circumstances?  The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us "there remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God." (Hebrews 4:9).  He has prepared a rest for us -- all we have to do is trust Him.

Keep the faith

Richard