This week, we have had our Creation Safari Spectacular at Antioch. We have had around 90-95 kids each day, and it has been a great week so far. We exotic animals here on Monday (a kangaroo, a lemur, a crocodile, a fox, a six-foot albino python). We had bugs here on Tuesday (spiders, scorpions, stick bugs, etc.). This has been quite a busy place bustling with kids. Today is Wednesday, and the kids and safari guides are on a treasure hunt at the OKC Zoo! Yea!
Today, it is extremely quiet! Yea! Now, I love kids and I really love it when kids get to learn about God and his creation. Tomorrow and Friday, we'll have the noise of learning and growing again. But today, I am really enjoying the quiet. It is much easier to get things done when it's quiet. It is the same at home. I love my family, and I love doing things with them, but sometimes it is nice to have some quiet to just reflect on things. What do you do with quiet? Do you sleep? Do you meditate? Do you pray? Do you reflect?
I heard a pastor give a list of the things God will hold me accountable for. On that list are things like, "have a heart of worship", "serve to advance the cause of Christ", "work hard and enjoy work." But on that list are also two that I tend to struggle with. They are, "rest", and "find solitude". I can be like my son, Nick, sometimes. He always wants to be doing something. It is hard to find rest and solitude, but it is desperately essential if we are to remain whole. It is extremely difficult to rest and find solitude as a pastor, because I know that the Kingdom of God is at stake, and there is much to be done... but if we don't find freedom from the noise of life, we will crash and burn.
This is not a call to laziness, but a call to finding rest from the noise of life and finding rest in Jesus. In Luke 10, we read the story of Jesus visiting the home of Mary and Martha. Martha is "busy" preparing the house and the meal. Mary just sits at Jesus feet and worships him and listens to him. Martha tells Jesus to get her to help him. Jesus tells Martha that she is worried and upset about many things, and that Mary has chosen the better way.
So, today, find some time to escape the noise of life and find rest in Jesus.
