“In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while God’s breath swept over the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good!
…God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image. So God created humankind in God’s image. God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth! And it was so. God saw everything that God had made, and indeed, it was very good.
In six days the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God rested from all the work. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.”
— Genesis 1-2 (adapted)
When it all began. God dove into the chaos. God pushed into the churning chaos. And made something beautiful out of all the disarray.
God dug into the primordial pools, swirling with potential, and led the muck toward life.
God took disorder, and sorted it out a bit. Sky over here, and oceans over there.
God made you, and me, and bore witness to our goodness with God’s very first word.
God made something beautiful out of a big mess. God dug God’s hands deeply into the soil of the Earth’s possibility and planted trees, sprouted springs, cast birds into the wind, and set the sun in the sky.
God unleashed something incredible out of a muddle of potential, and is watching it take on a life of its own.
Now neither you or I have ever created the heavens and the earth. We haven’t separated seas from sky, or made starlight…
But some of us have made something beautiful out of something that was a big mess.
Some of us have made new life.
Some of us have dug our hands into potential and watched it take on a life of its own.
We are creators too. We have finished projects, composed music, painted, and sculpted, and parented. We have been friends through hard moments, we have cleared an inbox or too. We have tamed an unruly yard into a beautiful garden.
And now, the invitation is to do the next thing that our scripture claims creators must do.
Take a break.
After those days of creation, God rested. God put it all down, and sat back. God recovered. God took a break.
And so should you.
For many of us the beginning of summer is a time when we turn toward a more restful season. And so in this time, and in this space, let’s be intentional about that turn.
I want to lift out the wisdom of scripture, that shows us what God needed to do in order to take a break, and suggest that these be practices for us as well.
First, God saw what God had done. As you get ready to take a break, do not flee from what you have accomplished. Take a look at it. See what you have made. See the fruit that your work bears.
And do not just see that it is, see that it is good. Not perfect. Not finished. But it is good. This could be a garden, a project at work, a work of art, a relationship, see that it is good, at least in part, because of what you have done. Be grateful for that.
See what you have done. But don’t just see that it is. See that it is good.
And then. Rest. Take time and space and set it aside for a break. Whether it is a cherished vacation destination, or just a quiet moment at home. Pick a time and a place where you will take some time and simply be at rest.
Where you will remember that first true thing that God said about you. No matter who you are. No matter what you have done, or left undone. No matter what you are resting from, and what state it is in. Take time to remember that first true thing that God said about you.
You are good. Not perfect. Not finished. But good.
And if God took a break. So can you.
One great way to create space for Sanctuary in your Summer is our Summer Sanctuary Wednesday night service. Think simple, prayerful, and spacious. 458 High St. Medford Wednesdays @ 7PM
