Life is very much like a football game without any timeouts. There is no whistle to stop the aggressors from coming after us. Sometimes the future appears to be blocked by a line of 300 pound 6 feet 6 inch tall bruisers with bulging muscles. If you are in school there are lectures and exams. If you are busy with a career there are growth goals and competition from colleagues. If you are parenting there are the joys of having your sweet children becoming adolescents. The list of challenges just keeps going.
We are tempted to blame it on modernity but it isn’t new. Two thousand years ago Jesus said, “”Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” People have always found ways to fill their days with endless activity. All our electronics have not lessened our workloads. Instead they have raised expectations that we will get even more done. Children used to play Hide and Go Seek or Tag. Now they play soccer, take martial arts classes, take dance lessons, play basketball games. The need is for a second car and a full time driver getting the children from appointment to appointment.
It makes one tired just thinking about the stress. I have never heard anyone say they are taking their children to “How to be Relaxed and Quiet” classes. So many of us long for our children to be successful so we push them. C’s in school used to be average. No longer. Anything less than an A is a source of disappointment. Often teachers will give a B student an A just because it isn’t worth the grief they will receive from eager parents.
When it all gets overwhelming remember there is place of quiet rest.
Written by Roger Bothwell on January 13, 2014
Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org