Pacing Ourselves

But Elijah went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: "It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors." Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, "Get up and eat." He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, "Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.” He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God. At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there. — From 1 Kings 19:1-4, (5-7), 8-15a

Many of you know, I’ve been away to be present with my Dad who is now in long-term hospice care in Michigan. Any of you who have experienced an intensive hospital situation know how exhausting it is for all who are involved, from the patient to the family who is trying to make sure their loved one is being cared for. I’m so grateful to be back in San Antonio, grateful for all the good work that was done by our amazing staff in my absence, and grateful for the many prayers extended while I was away. Please continue to hold my family in your prayers. 

As I’ve named my own fatigue, many others have mentioned that they too are feeling weary. For some, it is personal circumstances. For others, it is the crush of end-of-year activities. For many others, it is a deep and abiding concern for the state of our world. The sense of so many things beyond our control is not only upsetting but also exhausting. We long to hear the still small voice of God and yet can hardly find time to quiet ourselves to actually hear or discern it. 

Into this space comes this wonderful passage from Kings. It ends with Elijah hearing God in the sheer silence. Too often we skip through the silence. Notice the earlier part of the passage when Elijah arrived in the wilderness at the end of his rope hoping to just have his life end—it is even his prayer to God. He falls asleep and when he awakens, finds a cake and a jar of water. Whew! Respite! Care!

My temptation is to think Elijah should be good to go after a meal and rest, but Elijah needs a deeper rest and a second meal. The angel says, “Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.” It is on that second feeding that Elijah finds the strength for the forty days and forty nights journey to Mount Horeb where he finds God in the sheer silence.

How often do you allow yourself that second nap and second meal? As our rhythms shift this summer, how might we pace ourselves to hear the still small voice? My prayer is that you allow yourself the second nap, and maybe even a third. Feast on all the things that give you fuel for the journey toward God.

Peace, Beth +