In Matthew 11:28, Jesus tells us “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

The past two summers I had the good fortune to journey to places where there was not much to do, but enjoy nature and some relaxation. My recent two week journey to the Finger Lakes region of New York State to visit my brother, Tom, was no exception! Tom has an adorable home on 36 acres, near the top of a mountain, with neighbors who are acres and acres away from each other. His home is without WiFi, washing machine, limited television and no air-conditioning.

Wow! This is just what I was longing for.

However, we had also planned several day trips, the Corning Museum, the Adirondack Museum, and the most beautiful, but most strenuous, was a hike “down” the Falls in Watkins Glen. We both knew they would have to send a search party for us if we had hiked “up”. We found ourselves doing lots of walking instead of relaxing. Other days time was spent shooting guns at targets (I wasn’t very good at that). I was much better at shooting a crossbow and operating a four-wheeler.

It was Tom’s vacation, too, but with owning acres of farmland, chores needed to be done. So, while Tom mowed his fields, I got my chance to just sit and relax, soaking in the beauty of the area. I remember feeling like I was sitting up in the beautiful blue sky and that I could just reach out and touch one of the fluffy white clouds. Observing nature all around me and the peace God wanted me to have, my senses were filled and my mind soothed.

Like me, do you find yourself asking, “Why is it so hard to hear the call of God to rest in Him?”