News
Go And… Rest
December 26, 2023
by Rev. Kathee Forrest
Ah, January… in St. Paul, Minnesota… that is where this South Texas native spent six winters to complete residency requirements while attending Luther Seminary. Minnesota winters are memorable in many ways, like the first time I experienced the inside of my nose freezing or making a snow angel.
One particularly wintry January afternoon, classes completed for the day, I trekked toward the warmth of a good cup of coffee and a buttery almond kringler at the Finnish Bistro, when something caught my eye. Looking up, I saw a single, brilliant sun ray shining through a small gap in the clouds. As I followed the ray, looking slightly over my shoulder towards the steps of the iconic Bockman Hall, a man stood smack dab in the place where that sun ray met the earth. His face was lifted to fully accept the light, without shame or embarrassment. He seemed to rest in the light, which on any other day would have been meager; yet on that day, it appeared as though he was sunbathing on the beach in Florida. By then I had stopped, turned, and was fully staring at this wonder when he caught me. He gave a little shrug and said, “You gotta take it when you can.”
Ah, January…in Nebraska. We are entering Epiphany, the season of light in the midst of winter. With others in the Nebraska Synod, we are to contemplate “Go and…rest.” Along with the Magi, we follow the light, which leads to the Christ child; not a come-and-go sun ray that “You gotta take it when you can”, but Christ who is always with us. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” (John 1:15 NLT) Yet I wonder if we sometimes think the light is too much for us – it shines so brightly in our eyes and we cannot rest following the post-Christmas blues of January winter.
Go and…rest. Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Psalm 62:5 (NIV). During my internship, I was drawn to the idea of Sabbath rest, which now leads to more wondering about Sabbath rest in the light of Emmanuel – God with us. During my Sabbath rest conversations with others, one dear, retired pastor told me he often took Mini Sabbaths during the day. Intentional time of quiet and reflection.
Epiphany is all about wonder – the aha’s we discover as God is on the move in the world and in our lives. What might we discover with these intentional times of quiet and reflection in Christ’s light? Whether one minute, 5 or 10. Stop. Rest. Christ’s light shines on us all.
For further reflection: I googled “mini Sabbath” and found this idea from Resurrection Lutheran Church, Indianapolis, Indiana. Check it out.
Rev. Kathee Forrest is serving at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Beatrice.