Bigger Picture Moments: Rest

We trekked last Thursday down state to my mom's new house set on the edge of clear, calm waters in the middle of fields stretched out for not just dozens of miles but hundreds of them. 

As we drove through open space, I could feel myself letting off of the gas, slowing to the pace of life outside of the city and suburbia, 

slowing to the pace of life away from the demands of small children and work and more work and laundry and dishes. 

And

I surrendered.

Not just to the abandonment of clock watching 

or chores

or responsibility 

{like I've done so many times since we began the practice of sabbath just a few short years ago}

but to the demands that normally rage inside my head,

the thoughts that never stop spinning around in the hurricane circles,

the noises constantly volume-high, surround-sound in my ears.

We drank tea {still hot}.

And shared life.

We read the Word and shared words

hearts

and stories.

We walked.

And we breathed.

Much of what happens during normal rest.

But different completely.

Though, I've long realized since we began practicing sabbath that rest isn't so much a rule as it is a gift,

it took 

the long quiet

the deep stillness

the soft calm

the rich beauty

in full harmony

to understand that rest is a gift I hadn't fully unwrapped.

To know that it's not just a gift of simple retreat from the everydayness of life.

But that's it's packaged with equal parts of

grace, heavy,

mercy, vibrant,

peace unfathomable.

This week, we're sharing life at Jade's!