Rest

The basic lines and shapes in the above picture were drawn in a 'sort of eyes closed supposedly relaxing doodling process' that I came up with about 6 months ago. It wasn't really all that relaxing (my sister finds the process more relaxing than I do) but I was certainly delighted each time a dog, or even a Snoopy or another animal, appeared on my page. It's amazing how often that happened!

I've dabbled with a few relaxation techniques - not guzzling diet coke at midnight and float therapy, for example. The Headspace App has helped me to let go of mental clutter while amusing TV shows and chatting with close friends are enduring aspects of my relaxation arsenal (a nod to my maternal grandmother's football club there).  

I cannot deny, though, that a much deeper sense of calm comes to me when I contemplate the following words of Jesus: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. I can sit in silent solitude and find rejuvenation and hope in these words. I hear related words in my head in the form of a beautiful song from Handel's Messiah. There is no condemnation here, only love.

I wonder how this sits with you. Does anything resonate?