Weary, Wandering and Wallowed…

I went for a walk in the hills today. I saw a tractor-trailer struggling to climb the hills with a trailer full of bricks. The driver and his helpers were trying to shift the burden around to see if the tractor could pull it up. Once loaded, however, no matter how one tries, it is not possible to reduce the load by shifting things around; the only option is to unload. Unfortunately, I am not sure what they finally did.

Is this not what life is all about? Overloaded, with many things, like a beast of burden. In the past, we used to overload beasts of burden; today, we do that with our lives—with work, wants, and worries.

 

Weary with work—working for self-promotion and fulfillment, working for upward mobility and the rewards that come with it. However, I am reminded of a statement by Frederick Buechner: 'The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's hunger meet.' And the invitation from the Master in Matthew 11:28, 'Are you tired? Worn out? Burned 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.'

 

I wonder when humanity will move from work that wearies to work that gives us deep gladness.

 

Wandering with wants—wandering in the heart and virtual spaces with wants and desires. Like Edmund in 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' deeply wanting and desiring: 'It is dull, Son of Adam, to drink without eating,' said the Queen presently. 'What would you like best to eat?' 'Turkish Delight, please, your Majesty,' said Edmund. Each piece was sweet and light to the very center, and Edmund had never tasted anything more delicious. 'Son of Adam, I should so much like to see your brother and your two sisters. Will you bring them to me?' 'I'll try,' said Edmund, still looking at the empty box. 'Because, if you did come again—bringing them with you, of course—I'd be able to give you some more Turkish Delight.' Willing to pay any price for that deep desire…

 

I wonder when I will move from wandering with desire to wonder at a privilege and desire. A desire to fulfill the wants of others, a wonder at the privilege given to us to fulfill others' wants.

 

Wallowed in worries—worried about what to wear, what to eat, where I'll be tomorrow, what might happen a decade from now, and many more! Like what is said in Matthew 6, 'If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds. All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers.'  But replace this with another worry and concern.

 

Concerned with things that concern the Creator. The status of the world and creation around us. The wars, the refugees, and the worrying needs of many who are in the margins. The nature that is being destroyed and many such concerning issues.

 

Thus, move from a soul-draining overload syndrome to soul-freeing and fulfilling work, concern for others' needs, and caring for creation.

 

The return from the walk up the hill was through narrow and tricky terrain! But it was worth it, from the exhausting upward mobility and climb to the release and freedom of downward mobility.

I hope I will leave some of my work, wants and worries in hills as I move into the valleys and replace it with things that matter, this season which reminds us of God with us…