![]() ![]() ![]() But we can collect our thoughts a lot better when we are alone, apart from the noise and the hustle of the crowd, fixing our thoughts on God and talking to him about what is on our hearts and in minds at that time. Of course we can pray anywhere, even on the busiest street corner. He was never too busy or too overwhelmed by everything that was happening in his life to take time out with his heavenly Father and pray. What did he do? He walked to the Garden of Gethsemane with the disciples. In other words, “Jesus, there’s a lot to be done. When they found him they said, “Everyone is looking for you” (1:37). It seems that the disciples didn’t see the need for Jesus to be doing this when there was so much to be done. In the first chapter of Mark’s gospel we are told, “Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there” (1:35). We hear of Jesus doing this kind of thing often. They needed to retreat, so that they might be refreshed and renewed to continue to do what had to be done. We cannot keep up the pace under constant pressure from all directions. Just as Jesus needed to get away for a while so do we. And so he says, ‘Let’s get away for a while to quiet spot and rest.’Īll of us have days where we need that kind of invitation. He has a concern also for his disciples after all they have just come back from a strenuous mission. Jesus has no qualms about having a little bit of time away from the pressures that had been placed on him by others. They had a hectic life and there was a sense of urgency to get as much done as possible in the short time that Jesus had in the world. ![]() He didn’t make his disciples feel guilty either. Jesus didn’t feel guilty about taking time out. In fact, we often feel guilty when we do stop for a while and have a bit of ‘me’ time. We know all this but more often than not we struggle on – we don’t have time to stop for a while. We need to take timeout to reassess where we are going, what have we done wrong, and how we can do things a different way. We need to hear our Coach’s encouragement his words of support when it seems our opponents – the devil, the world and our own selfish desires are getting the upper hand. We need to take time out to listen to advice from Coach Jesus. We need to take time out and slow down from their busy lives. Time out is also a wise principle in everyday living. When it seems that the opponents are getting an upper hand When a player needs encouragement and support When advice from the coach is needed to give the team the winning edge They went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves” (vv. “(Jesus) said to (his disciples), ‘Come apart into a deserted place, and rest awhile.’ For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. They were in the middle of it all and we are told that “there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and the disciples didn’t even have time to eat” (v. For the disciples it wasn’t any different. ![]() There was a constant flow of people wanting to see him, to hear him, to have him heal their sick and to test out his theology. If there was ever a busy bloke it was Jesus. In fact, experts tell us that we are trying to do in one day that not so long ago took three days. Our lives are packed so full that the day is finished before we have accomplished half of what we wanted to do. Time is something we wrestle with every day. Next thing you know we’ll be getting ready for Christmas”. Or “We are already in the second half of the year. We look at our watches and say, “Goodness, just look at the time”. Most of our comments about time relate to the speed with which time is passing. With all the time saving devices in our homes and work places one would think that we would have so much more time to do the things we like to do, to spend more time with our families, volunteer more of our time to charity and the church. There’s no doubt about it – we live in a busy world. ![]()
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