Rest for the Weary

"Come to me, all you who labor and carry heavy burdens and I will give you rest."

Another interpretation says, "Come unto me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest."

~Matthew 11:28

The Church Within A Church Movement's time in Tucson, titled, Living Justice in the Wilderness, was powerful and still inspires and uplifts me as I reflect on that weekend. On Friday, the national Coordinating Team and gathered friends centered ourselves around the process of living justice by remembering, dreaming, witnessing and questioning. These words represent a path for us. They set the context and steps for our living justice journey.

We were inspired by story after story of why people joined us in AZ and why people are a part of the CWAC Movement. As I listened to the witnessing and the dreaming and the questioning, I discovered that celebration and weariness were integral parts of each story. We discovered that we all get tired as we journey to justice. I know I get weary of saying the same things over and over again; things like we are all made in God's image and God wants everyone at God's table. I am weary of having hard conversations about dismantling "isms". I'm tired of speaking truth to power and being ignored or ridiculed or silenced. I'm tired of being misunderstood, of being mislabeled, of being misheard. Yet, in my fatigue, I am thankful for this message of love; this sweet invitation that says "come and I will give you rest" - I will refresh you, I will restore you, for the next steps. So, as we met as a community of faith, in Tucson, we talked about finding the strength and the courage to continue doing justice work even in the midst of our frustrations and weariness.

I chose this scripture for our devotion this month because these words speak to me. "Come to me" is such a powerful invitation. I find myself thinking, you mean me God? And of course God's answer is always yes - "all" includes you, Vernice. And the phrase of hope that inspires me to keep moving, in spite of my particular burden, in spite of any weariness I might feel is "I will give you rest." That promise is one of renewal and rejuvenation; one of rebirth. That phrase helps me lean into my tomorrows with a sense of peace and encouragement even as I negotiate my way through today's hardships.

And that is what we heard over and over again in our time in Tucson. The reason people chose and are choosing CWAC Movement is that we provide that place of rest and restoration. We provide a safe, sacred space where we might reflect and speak our pain and share our joy as we continue witnessing and dreaming and living justice.

Jesus says, Come to me I will give you rest. Jesus did not say the work is over. Jesus did not say the work would be easy, but did say, as we feed the hungry, as we seek justice for the excluded and the marginalized; as we set the captives free, as we speak truth to power - Jesus did say, I will give you rest.

Thank you CWAC Movement for your diligent and determined pursuit of justice. Together, as community, our journey continues...

In truth and Justice,

Vernice