Rest and Restore

I woke to bright sunlight flooding my room. It was 9:51 a.m. On a Saturday. I hadn’t slept that late in years, what was the matter with me? Then I remembered gazing out the window in the middle of the night, drawn to a full moon so bright I needed no light to guide me down the hallway to the window. The same beautiful full moon that was messing with my sleep pattern this week. There was nothing wrong with me, I simply needed to rest and be restored.

Opening my devotional for the day, I read, “Sometimes we need a break. We have to reset ourselves physically and spiritually.” Like Elijah, who had been crazy busy doing the Lord’s work then fled to the desert under the threat of assassination. At Mt. Sinai he rested, slept, prayed, ate and talked to God. And was restored.

My week had been productive but I was going at Mach 2 with my hair on fire. Following a similar paced summer filled with travel and company. At the office I was making progress on systems testing and excited about the early success of the coaching model I’d developed for a mentee’s career path. In Kingdom work I was totally jazzed about the way the Lord was working in my one on one discipleship commitment. God was showing up everywhere, blessing me and directing my path. But I was exhausted.

My sleep this week had not been sweet. It had been fitful, interrupted, not restful. And therefore my morning prayer time was cut short, skimped on in favor of the effort to catch just a few Z’s. The Lord, who knows well my Type A, To Do List personality, granted me this Saturday morning with no construction noise or sweet grandson to wake me. Just the boon of drifting back off a little after 7 to fill my sleep tank with 3 restful hours. I was rested, and I felt rested.

The restoration part looks a little different for everyone I think, but for me this morning it looked like this. With no list other than for groceries, fresh energy motivated me to go the store before noon, which is about the only way to have a relaxing shopping experience. A cup of my favorite coffee in hand, I wandered leisurely in the produce and deli section, gathering items for my fave veggie casserole and enjoying the colorful display of fruits and vegetables. Rolling over to the sparkling wine section, I selected a bottle of bubbly for later. The display shelves of toy metal collector cars was a must stop – Liam’s collection can never be too big. I took the time to chat with the young lady standing nearby, listened to her explain the store’s current promotion and letting her hand me a booklet to fill with stamps. Returned home to actually watch the birds, noticing the older Cardinal who was gray at the top edge of his beautiful red coat, his bright red son close by. Engaged in life, but not at a frenetic pace. To Do List set aside for the moment.

I thought of Psalm 23, something I’d prayed that morning when I couldn’t get back to sleep. “He restores my soul”. He does, and He did, and He always will when I let Him.

Thank you Father, Author of Creation and all good things in life, for rest and restoration. Help me to avail myself of those gifts more often to be refreshed in your service. Amen.