One Good Thing Every Day: January 16, 2013

Matthew 11:28-30 appeared in two of my devotional readings this morning.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

This is the second morning this year that Matthew 11:28-30 has greeted me. On that morning, I came across these lines from Walt Whitman's Song of Myself.

Apart from the pulling and hauling stands what I am.

Stands amused, complacent, compassionating, idle, unitary,

Looks down, is erect, bends an arm on an impalpable certain rest,

Looks with its sidecurved head, curious what will come next,

Both in and out of the game, and watching and wondering at it.

Of course, I cannot know for certain what inspired Whitman's words. But, as I read them, I cannot not separate Jesus' words from them. Because even as I try to appear in control my day-to-day tasks, I know I do not reign over the reins. That "sidecurved head, curious what will come next,/Both in and out of the game, and watching and wondering at it" is mine in the yoke of the only One who can lead me through the "pulling and hauling" of my burdens. At the end of the day is the rest He promises, in the pasture of His grace.