Tim Throckmorton: Taking time to relax
Published 12:00 am Sunday, February 2, 2025
Henry Nouwen writes, “Without solitude it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life. Solitude begins with a time and a place for God, and him alone. If we really believe not only that God exists but also that he is actively present in our lives — healing, teaching, and guiding — we need to set aside a time and a space to give him our undivided attention.” We have everything we need in the day and time we live. Everything perhaps, except solitude.
I believe it was Corrie ten Boom who said that “If the devil cannot make us bad, he will make us busy.”
Well, we are busy!
The new statistic emerged in a new study of 2,000 Americans which found that over six in ten Americans are currently putting off basic administrative tasks such as cleaning, going to the bank or even filing their taxes because they just don’t have the time.
According to the results of the study, Americans are so busy and on-the-go, they only have four hours and 26 minutes of free time a week, with four in ten Americans saying they actually have less.
Nouwen continues, “The discipline of solitude allows us gradually to come in touch with this hopeful presence of God in our lives and allows us also to taste even now the beginnings of the joy and peace which belong to the new heaven and the new earth. The discipline of solitude, as I have described it here, is one of the most powerful disciplines in developing a prayerful life. It is a simple, though not easy, way to free us from the slavery of our occupations and preoccupations and to begin to hear the voice that makes all things new.”
Do you have a place to get away? Jesus did.
Listen to Matthew’s Gospel, “The same day went Jesus out of the house and sat by the seaside. And then again in Mark writing, “And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.”
The driver of a carabao wagon was on his way to market when he overtook an old man carrying a heavy load. Taking compassion on him, the driver invited the old man to ride in the wagon. Gratefully the old man accepted. After a few minutes, the driver turned to see how the man was doing. To his surprise, he found him still straining under the heavy weight, for he had not taken the burden off his shoulders.
According to a Greek legend, in ancient Athens a man noticed the great storyteller Aesop playing childish games with some little boys. He laughed and jeered at Aesop, asking him why he wasted his time in such frivolous activity.
Aesop responded by picking up a bow, loosening its string and placing it on the ground.
Then he said to the critical Athenian, “Now, answer the riddle, if you can. Tell us what the unstrung bows implies.”
The man looked at it for several moments but had no idea what point Aesop was trying to make.
Aesop explained, “If you keep a bow always bent, it will break eventually; but if you let it go slack, it will be more fit for use when you want it.”
People are also like that. That’s why we all need to take time to rest.
In the Scripture, Jesus prescribed time off for His wearied disciples after they had returned from a prolonged period of ministry.
And in the Old Testament, God set a pattern for us when He “rested from all His work” (Gen. 2:3).
Shouldn’t we take His example seriously? Start by setting aside a special time to relax physically and renew yourself emotionally and spiritually. You will be at your best for the Lord if you have taken time to loosen the bow.
Listen to John 18, “When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.” Did you that Jesus often went to this quiet place. We need a place.
One man challenged another to an all-day wood chopping contest. The challenger worked very hard, stopping only for a brief lunch break.
The other man had a leisurely lunch and took several breaks during the day.
At the end of the day, the challenger was surprised and annoyed to find that the other fellow had chopped substantially more wood than he had.
“I don’t get it,” he said. “Every time I checked, you were taking a rest, yet you chopped more wood than I did.”
“But you didn’t notice,” said the winning woodsman, “That I was sharpening my ax when I sat down to rest.”
What are you doing with your spare time, or do you have any?
While you can, when you should, why not slow down and set aside a time and a space to give Him your undivided attention.
Tim Throckmorton is the president of Lifepointe Ministries.