Josh Medlock, Director of Student Ministries
Why does life move by at such a quickened pace?
Is this a product of the society in which we live?
Has our dependency on technology forced us to quicken our pace just to keep up?
If you are like me, you probably don’t take enough time to simply slow down and take a breath.
I recently had a conversation about this very thing.
We both agreed that neither of us take enough time to rest or recharge effectively.
We talked about ways we could and should do these things so we can be better at our relationships, be better at our jobs and improve our health.
Shortly after our conversation, we both jumped in our cars and rushed to our next appointments.
I realized at the end of the day I still had not taken the time I said I would.
I am quite certain they did not either.
Taking time to rest and to slow down is fundamental in giving our minds an opportunity to recharge and rebuild.
Scientific studies have shown that individuals who constantly try to keep up a breakneck speed in their daily lives suffer from memory loss, reduction in cognitive awareness, and in some cases even migraines and impaired visual perception and acuity.
We know now that a rested mind is a more powerful mind.
Taking intentional time to recharge and rest gives our brain the opportunity to rebuild brain cells lost during our hustle and bustle of living a stress-filled life.
I am reminded of when Jesus talked about the flowers of the field:
“Who among you by worrying can add a single moment to your life?
“And why do you worry about clothes?
“Notice how the lilies in the field grow.
“They don’t wear themselves out with work, and they don’t spin cloth.
“But I say to you that even Solomon in all of his splendor wasn’t dressed like one of these.
“If God dresses grass in the field so beautifully, even though it’s alive today and tomorrow it’s thrown into the furnace, won’t God do much more for you?”
This passage of scripture is from Matthew, Chapter 6.
This translation is from the Common English Bible.
Think about what you just read.
Jesus is talking about flowers and how they don’t wear themselves out.
Jesus emphasizes that God has meticulously dressed these flowers in beauty and cares for them with such love that it seems almost ridiculous.
I say ridiculous because Jesus also says these flowers are gathered up and thrown into the furnace.
Then we are reminded that if God does this for flowers, what will God do for us?
I think it is crucial to our faith journey that we take time to rest and not be caught up in the fast-paced, stress-filled, breakneck-paced life that we have grown accustomed to.
The flowers do not wear themselves out. That is what Jesus said.
If we are to grow our faith and our relationship with God, we must rest and allow our mind and spirit to recharge.
A tired mind is a weak mind. A rested mind is a powerful mind.
Our spirit, our faith, our relationships will be stronger and more meaningful if we allow ourselves that time to rest and recharge.
Take a break. Look at the flowers.
Pray and listen. Let us hear what God is saying to us today.
May God continue to bless each of you.
First Reflections 