Everybody who has kids or grandchildren these days know that they aren’t supposed to be

“whupped” anymore; they get sent into a “time out”. This brief interlude allows the young ones to

practice some self-management and allows the adult some space to calm down too. Often this works,

sometimes it’s less successful.

Jesus took personal time out every day/morning; we usually think this was so he could pray and

prepare for the day ahead and think holy thoughts. This would make sense because Jesus was a pure

and holy person, right? On the other hand, the scripture record notes that Jesus also got frustrated,

tired, fed up, and needed to get away from the children, sorry, his followers.

Think of all he went through: come on, Jesus, do a miracle. Hey Jesus, answer this legal question

for us. Jesus, your family is waiting outside to drag you home because they think you’ve lost your mind.

Is it true that you let that woman from Magdala touch your feet? Tell me Jesus, have I done everything I

need to do to get to heaven? Jesus, why did you talk to that foreigner; we’re supposed to hate her kind.

Jesus, hurry up and declare your kingship so we can all be rich and powerful! Repeat, repeat, repeat. No

wonder Jesus needed some daily time out.

So. We also need to carve out a space, a small appointment, just a few minutes to CHILL OUT so

we can function smoothly. The ancient prophet Isaiah said “Come back, keep peace and rest; in

quietness and in confidence shall be your strength…” which is great advice. However, the people God

was speaking to were just like us! The rest of that same verse says “…but you would not”. The Jesus-y

way is to stop and enjoy some quiet space. The human way is to power through until our first heart

attack. Go the Jesus way and take time out.

Everyone is welcome at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church: Sunday service at 10 a.m. and coffee hour

afterwards. Remember to love one another!