A Daily Appointment with the Porch Swing

Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.

Mark 6:31b (NIV)

For my twenty-first birthday, I asked for a porch swing. That may seem an odd birthday request at such a young age, but I knew something about myself even then. Rest was and still is not my forte. I often complete one task or project only to jump right into another. Rarely do I not appear to wake the sun and begin the new day long before it rises. So, the swing was just what I needed. The movement of gently swaying back and forth in the early morning or late evening breeze bathed my soul with a sense of relaxation. With no specific place to go, this was sometimes an invitation to think and ponder the deep things within my heart. At other times, it was the perfect haven for no thinking, just solitude.

I enjoyed the swing as long as we lived in the house. When we moved, I left it behind, it was like losing an old friend, but I hoped the next family to live there would find the same peaceful moments, joy, and relaxation it had provided in my daily appointment with the porch swing.

In Matthew Chapter 14, I can only imagine that the disciples are ready for a round of golf or a dip in the pool, or maybe they were so exhausted that even a porch swing would look rather inviting had one been available. Jesus returned home to Nazareth, and the family visit, among other things, went awry. They are in disbelief when they see the wisdom in Jesus' teaching and the miracles He performs. The visit ended with the family rejecting His work, so Jesus called in His disciples. He gave them authority to accomplish His work. Jesus sent them out with nothing but their faith that He would make provision for them to preach a questioned message of repentance. Jesus gave them the authority to cast out demons and perform healings. Yet, they had to depend on Him for the daily provisions needed for life, which included not knowing where they would eat or sleep, running into crowds skeptical of their message, and many other hardships all in a day's work.

Maybe you are reading this and thinking that no one understands how challenging your life's hardships are, or you are living settled and experiencing sheer bliss and contentment. Regardless, there is excellent value in retreating from present-day tasks and troubles and resting, whatever that looks like, a good book, an old movie, some baking, a long walk, or maybe...a daily appointment with a porch swing.

photo credit: clipground.com

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