Weary

Weary

Have you ever been weary? You log onto your social media account and see all the bickering, infighting and moral confusion. You go to work and tiptoe through political landmines. You go home and hope to find it peaceful. You go to the mailbox hoping for an unexpected check only to find an unexpected bill. You might be weary today.

There are times when I get weary. I have friends who want to build a wall along the border of Mexico and those who think it is immoral to do so. I have friends who think you can’t be (fill in political party) and also be a Christian. I have friends who love guns and I have friends who think that if the guns went away we would all start being nice to each other.

There are times when I get weary. I have friends who think that bringing back hymnals in the church will fix the problems at church. I have friends who think that installing a smoke machine will result in young people mysteriously showing up at church. I have friends who think skinny jeans and converse shoes are the key to good preaching. I have friends who think wearing a suit is the best way to honor Jesus in the pulpit. 

While all these debates are going on I have found that my neighbor is still in need of Jesus. I have found that the person in the cubical next to me at work is still struggling with the impact of a spouse who has left them. I have found that the word cancer still causes fear. While church folks debate their particular cause, people are living with hopelessness. They know what it means to be genuinely weary and they hope to find rest and peace.

I was in an airport yesterday at a gate where four planes were trying to depart at the same time. It was pure chaos. I happened to look around the room and saw a woman wiping tears from her cheek. Her head hung low and it was clear she was trying to hide. I couldn’t get to her because of the crowd of people around her. I prayed that God would place us near each other on the plane but she left for another city. Will she find those who know Christ in her neck of the woods debating hymns, what clothes to wear and the style of worship or will she find a Christ-follower who is looking to love her into the Kingdom of Jesus.

Jesus said, “Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.”  The Apostle Paul challenged us saying, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” I know that some debates are important. However, I also know that people are more important than our debates. I have found that there is nothing as energizing as God using me to help a person find new life in Christ.

If you find yourself weary of the arguments and endless bickering, go knock on your neighbors door and invite them to your home for a picnic. If you are weary, invite a co-worker to Easter worship services. If you are weary, go out to dinner and intentionally engage your server with a missional heart. I promise that you will find a renewed energy from the Holy Spirit and you just might discover a friend for all eternity.

I am done being weary. It is time go close the lid on this computer and go love someone.