“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.” Jesus
What is the opposite of “easy?”
Endless lamenting about the election.
Going to religious services regularly, but not resting in one’s God.
Viewing everything from “my” perspective, not once considering the legitimacy of the other person in the room, or the other group of people “over there.”
And talking ourselves into—deluding ourselves—that what we say and stand for is so important that everything else comes second, or even further down the priority pipeline. So relationships (even that with God) come second, third, or even further, to “my” conviction on any given cause or topic. And it is expected that the people in our relationships not only graciously accept our taking these prioritized stands, but applaud and admire us for it.
Why are the above descriptions the opposite of “easy?”
Because they create a dramatic setting for one’s need for self-importance by fixing one’s Quixotic identity into a forced--but false--realty (to me, that sounds like a lot of work. In fact, it is a lot of work, because I’ve done it!!)
This is indeed a heavy burden: both for the one militantly going about announcing themselves, and for those on the receiving end.
For the person with tunnel vision, who literally cannot see the common-sense forest for the trees aspect of life, this forcing of one’s interior thought life out into the open and onto others is never enough. In their mind, their blindly striving to be important (more important than the next person) never seems to bring connection with other people and society the way they imagined, so they keep on keeping-on hoping that someday, the world will finally stop and congratulate them on having been so concerned about just about everything!
It’s a heavy burden, too, for the person who must endure, as graciously as they can, episodic mini orations, “should” sessions and low emotional intelligence from the people they interact with.
The sad fact is that, oftentimes, these projectors of personal passions wonder why they have few, if any, deep connections. While they are blindly intent on pushing their inner world, they inadvertently push others away.
Jesus understands all of this. Nothing surprises him. That’s why he says that the antidote to every earthly burden is to set down our self-imposed ego-yoke and take up his yoke—and learn from Him. But those so entrenched in their fear of “where this world is going” or “how complacent everyone is but me,” can’t set aside their own person long enough to see anyone, much less Jesus Christ.
But, there he is anyway—Jesus, not shoving himself onto anyone, but simply standing steadily by, ready to give his easy yoke and learning to all.
I guess, for some, Jesus’ call to rest, to not carry our self-assigned burden, is the very definition of complacency. But don’t let the critics in this matter succeed in guilting.
Resting in Christ is the very opportunity to arrive at empathy, open-mindedness, the ability to listen (and not feel threatened), and bearing with one another (isn’t that the only way to ever be in a relationship and maintain deep connection—a two-way street?)
Isn’t that an easier way than a constant mindset of self-righteous “me, my and mine”—the groping, clawing, joyless curating of pet peeves into minefields that others must walk through? What stress and strain in the constant fear of coming in second, leading to the obsessive running of a race to be superior, right and on the winning side!
And for those who surrender the white flag and decide to walk away from instigating this type of toxic atmosphere, participating in it or silently abiding it, Jesus is there, too. The weary can take on his easy yoke and learn from Him all that He teaches about long-suffering, being at peace with others, humility, and throwing that first, or last, stone.
Jesus will carry all of us.
Will I, as his child, lift up my arms and let him?
Copyright Barb Harwood
