Fields United Methodist Church

January 25, 2021

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.”

Psalm 23:1-3

There are times when we just need a break from all life’s twists and turns; a break from the negativity and the unknown. The other day I thought about baseball and how the baseball season is not too far away, so I checked when pitchers and catchers are set to begin Spring training. The answer was just another TBA, “To be announced.” It seems to be the story of life in this season of pandemic; everything it seems is to be announced.  Events are delayed, shipments on back order, life put on hold; these all seem to be business as usual. Yet there is hope because there is God, who offers an alternative, a time of refreshment and renewal. There is hope and that hope comes through Jesus, the Great Shepherd. Jesus is calling you to take a break, to step back and out of the challenges of life even for a moment; you need a rest and your rest will come from the One who is calling you to “lie down in green pastures” and to take the road less traveled just to recharge your spiritual batteries. Jesus is with you and “all who are weary and carrying heavy burdens,” especially during times such as these. There is hope and the key is to take a bit of time to stop and celebrate hope realized through Jesus by experiencing life in different ways. I love to take long driving trips, it has a way of relaxing me with a sense of independence while seeing different parts of the country. There was a time that my eyes grew weary and needed someone else to take the wheel. So I pulled off and moved to the passenger seat and gave the driving to someone else. What I experienced was a fresh new view of a road that I traveled hundreds of times. As the driver, I was focused on the road and those other vehicles around me, but as a passenger I experienced creation in a new way, seeing things I have never seen before along the way. When you stop long enough to celebrate all that God has put in your path and along your path, you will find yourself without “want.” You will feel enlivened in soul and refreshed in body. Make the Lord Jesus Christ your shepherd, your rock, and your salvation; you will know the peace of Christ and that peace will renew your soul and give you rest.

Rev. Tom Joyce