That was the sound he made as he flew by me so fast that I barely had time to react to his hurried, “On your left!”
WHHHOOOOooooshhh!
On that particular day, I was just out for a leisurely ride on the B&O Trail, but this guy clearly had a different goal in mind. And that’s OK. I get it, because there are days when I, too, just want to hammer out the miles or challenge myself by seeing how long I can keep up a pace of 18+ mph. There’s nothing wrong with that. (Although, if you’re gonna do it, I’d encourage you to shout “On your left” a little bit earlier and louder than that guy did.)
The problem comes when that sort of achievement-driven mentality becomes such a habit that we can’t slow down, when we’re so focused on accumulating miles and maintaining speed that it practically becomes an addiction. And it can happen so gradually and subtly that we hardly even notice.
Case in point…
Last September, I was privileged to ride the Katy Trail in Missouri with a couple of good friends. We had a great time with wonderful weather, beautiful scenery, and very few mishaps along the 240-mile trail. But on the last day, as we approached the Machens trailhead where we were anxious to ring the bell signifying the completion of our adventure, we kind of got in a “hammer it out” mode with heads down and eyes forward such that we barely noticed the majestic Missouri River gliding silently by on our right, just beyond the trees.
Thankfully, something inside of me finally whispered, “Hey, what are ya doin’?” So, calling out to my buddies, I asked, “Whaddya say we stop at the next available bench and just enjoy the moment?”
The picture you see is of that very moment, and today it serves as the wallpaper on both my computer and my phone, reminding me of something very important – so important that Jesus even taught it to his disciples.
If you’ve read the Gospels, you know that Jesus was always going from one place to another, teaching, healing, working for change, and teaching his disciples to do the same. But I love the fact that he also taught them the importance of REST. For example, in Mark 6, we find the disciples coming to Jesus after returning from a teaching and healing mission on which he’d sent them. They’re excited to tell him all that they’ve seen and done in his name, and no doubt his heart is full as he listens to them. But then we read this:
The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.
So, what about you? Do you hear Jesus calling you to come away and rest for a while? If so, I encourage you to listen, believing that he’ll help you figure out how to do everything else that needs to be done (or to realize that maybe some of it isn’t quite as important as you previously thought).
Would you pray with me?
Jesus, it’s so easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of daily life that we fail to hear you quietly whisper, “Come away and rest with me a while.” Please help us prioritize our “quiet time” with you and trust you to show us how to manage everything else. Amen
Dave Marty is a retired pastor who lives with his wife, Mary, in Brownsburg, Indiana. They have two beautiful daughters, two great sons-in-law, and two creative teenage grandchildren. In addition to cycling (including unicycling), Dave also enjoys gardening, Scrabble, hosting Holy Land tours with Mary, and tutoring kindergarteners at a nearby school