Practice from Invitation to Solitude and Silence by Ruth Haley Barton
From Chapter 4, “Dangerously Tired”
“Because we do not rest we lose our way … Poisoned by the hypnotic belief that good things come only through unceasing determination and tireless effort, we can never truly rest. And for want of rest our lives are in danger.” – Wayne Muller
Practice:
In silence, reflect on where you are on this continuum:
Fully energized Good tired Drifting toward Fully in a state of and refreshed dangerously tired dangerously tiredAs you identify where you are on the continuum, don’t rush to try to solve or fix anything; instead, give yourself time and space to notice what is true about you. Invite God into this moment by saying, “God, this is what is true about me. What are we going to do about this?”
Allow yourself to become fully aware of God with you in these moments, loving you and extending compassion to you. Hear the words of Jesus spoken to you in these moments: “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28). What is it like to hear these words right now? Do you believe it is possible for you to find the rest you need?
Tell God what you need, and listen for what he wants to say to you now.
