Take these moments to be still and enter rest.
Breathe deeply and fully.
Let your attention come to the rhythm of those deep and wide breaths.
Allow the exhale to be longer than the inhale,
Fully emptying the lungs,
Taking a pause before breathing in once more.
Repeat this pattern of a longer exhale two or three more times,
Keeping the breath deep and wide.
And in that space of deep breaths,
Allow your body to be fully supported and held.
Allow the shoulders to sink,
Allow the body to rest and to be held.
And know that in this moment you are held in love,
That your life is seen and responded to with compassion.
You are seen and you are responded to with compassion.
Allow yourself to be seen,
Allow compassion to enfold you.
And in this space,
Welcome the tender kindness of God,
The tender kindness of love to meet you.
Know that in these moments you are met with kindness,
With love,
With tenderness.
And as you sit in this stillness,
Begin to notice places in body,
Soul or spirit that feel weary,
Burdened and heavy.
Where do you feel the weariness and the heaviness?
Begin to notice what emotions are present as you give attention to those places that feel weary or burdened.
Be present to what you're feeling,
Sensing and noticing,
Without judging,
But with acceptance and with compassion.
Simply allow what comes to come,
Be with it with compassion,
Allowing God's love and compassion to join with yours and hold you in a safe,
Seen place.
As I come to reading the words from Matthew 11,
From three different translations of the Bible,
Allow them to bring refreshment and to minister to those places of weariness.
Notice any words that jump out at you.
Receive them as ointment where it's needed to soothe and restore.
Come to me,
All you who are weary and burdened,
And I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
For I am gentle and humble in heart,
And you will find rest for your souls.
Are you weary,
Carrying a heavy burden?
Then come to me.
I will refresh your life,
For I am your oasis.
Simply join your life with mine.
Learn my ways and you'll discover that I'm gentle,
Humble,
Easy to please.
You will find refreshment and rest in me.
Are you tired,
Worn out on religion?
Come to me.
Get away with me and you'll recover your life.
I'll show you how to take a real rest.
Walk with me and work with me.
Watch how I do it.
Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.
I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.
And as I read those words once more,
Receive from them what you need.
Let them come to you as refreshment and restoration.
And as you receive these words,
Maybe you feel the invitation to surrender,
To let go,
To put down the burden that you've been carrying.
Come to me,
All you who are weary and burdened,
And I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
For I am gentle and humble in heart,
And you will find rest for your souls.
Are you weary,
Carried away by burden?
Then come to me.
I will refresh your life,
For I am your oasis.
Simply join your life with mine.
Learn my ways and you'll discover that I'm gentle,
Humble,
Easy to please.
You will find refreshment and rest in me.
Are you tired,
Worn out on religion?
Come to me.
Get away with me and you'll recover your life.
I'll show you how to take a real rest.
Walk with me and work with me.
Watch how I do it.
Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.
I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.
And in these remaining moments,
Receive rest.
And as you bring attention to your breath once again,
Making it deep and wide,
Extending the exhale,
Receive rest.
Allow the burdens to be lifted.
Allow the weariness to be seen and to be responded to with love and hope and refreshment.
Amen.
.
Amen.
May you receive great refreshment to body,
Soul and spirit.
And may you live in these coming days in the unforced rhythms of grace.
Blessings and love to you,
My friends,
And I look forward to being with you again next time.
