The Center for Leadership Excellence, in partnership with COSROW, is pleased to lift up the voices of women in ministry encouraging fellow women in ministry. Please enjoy this month’s Encouragement from Casey Mursten, pastor of St Paul UMC and Duke’s Chapel UMC Cooperative Parish. Anyone can sign up to receive Encouragement emails here.
Read Mark 4:35-41 (NRSVue):
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And waking up, he rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Be silent! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Reflect: And then the disciples took him with them in the boat, just as he was. In other words, Jesus was tired. Tired? Is that how we like to imagine the Lord of lords? Sleepy and dozing Jesus? Jesus is always so active in scripture: praying, teaching, healing, and helping. But even Jesus needed a nap.
The disciples, and others from the crowds, were traversing the sea when a great windstorm arose, with waves beating against the boat. But Jesus was in the stern, fast asleep. Scripture even provides this wondrous detail that he was resting on a cushion. I imagine it was pretty chaotic, wind and waves, disciples scared and shouting. But there is the Prince of Peace. Peacefully asleep in the same great storm. Asleep on a cushion.
I am preparing to take a renewal leave for the month of November. I have some things planned and days with no plans. I will take a social media fast. I will see friends and visit the beach. I am so grateful for the women who have taken Sabbatical and renewal leave. So many have been encouraging both from their example or non-example: “I wish I would’ve taken more rest.”
I need rest. I need renewal to continue into this beautiful and rigorous calling of pastoral ministry. Things will be left undone, but that’s okay. I saw once an out-of-office message that said, “If there’s an urgent need take a deep breath; many things are not that urgent.”
At the “Taste of the Spiritual Academy” last week, we were led in the meditation, “Time is urgent. I must slow down.”
Take Action: I printed this list of nine types of rest to keep close during my renewal leave. Which one speaks to you? How will you rest this week?
- Time away
- Permission to not be helpful
- Something unproductive
- Connection to nature and art
- Solitude to recharge
- A break from responsibility
- Stillness to decompress
- Safe space
- Alone time at home
In partnership,
Center for Leadership Excellence and the Commission on the Status and Role of Women