As teachers, we can feel mixed emotions as Thanksgiving break approaches. Of course, we look forward to the welcome interruption in our normal routines and time with family and friends. But we also know Thanksgiving marks the beginning of a busy time. In those next few weeks, we have to wrap up units, finish grading, and squeeze in all the Christmas festivities—at school and at home. The sprint to Christmas can be exhausting. And just like a good runner, we need to add rest to our routine.
We aren’t the only ones who get tired from running hard. Jesus himself also experienced weariness throughout his ministry on earth. But he also sought rest through attending to his own needs, connecting with his disciples, and drawing close to the Father. In researching transformative professional learning for PreK–12 Christian school teachers, I found that this kind of rest is an important foundation for spiritual well-being. When our rest encompasses authentic connections with self, others, and God, we are in a much better position to serve and fulfill our calling. What if, in the busy season ahead, we commit to follow Jesus’ example of rest?
Jesus Cared About His Basic Needs
In Mark 4:35–41, Jesus told his disciples to cross the lake in a boat to find rest from the crowds after preaching in Galilee. When a storm arose, his disciples found Jesus asleep on a cushion in the stern of the boat. I love this image of Jesus because it makes me think of the saying, “there is tired, and then there is teacher-tired!” This picture of Jesus sleeping in a wave-tossed boat reminds us that even he needed sleep, and the mention of a pillow assures us that even the little comforts mattered.
There is tired, and then there is teacher-tired!
What might this kind of rest look like for us? Maybe it is the short, quiet walk after school. Or maybe it’s pausing once or twice each day to step outside, breathe fresh air, and revel in God’s creation as the seasons change. It’s easy to dismiss these simple acts of personal care amid the season’s busyness, but if Jesus tended to himself, shouldn’t we?
Jesus Shared Fellowship with His Disciples
In Mark 6:30–32 we see the disciples telling Jesus all they had been doing, as throngs of people kept coming and going. As the crowds pressed in, Jesus invited his disciples to come away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. In those brief moments on the water, the disciples caught their breath and shared quiet fellowship. Though it was short, Jesus knew what they needed. After their rest, they were better prepared for their next assignment: feeding the five thousand.
Teachers certainly understand the disciples’ plight. Students press in on us all day. With make-up work, exam prep, early vacation leave, or just stories about decorating their Christmas tree, we find ourselves with little downtime. When I picture the disciples’ short respite on the boat in Jesus’ presence, I’m reminded of how some teachers I know have turned their classrooms into a quiet place of prayer and worship once a week before the morning bell. They dim the lights and fill the room with quiet music. Other teachers in the building know they can pray together there, or simply sit in the stillness. While this kind of teacher fellowship may be brief, meeting in his presence can strengthen us to meet our students’ needs. What if, in this busy season, we prioritized that kind of fellowship, with Christ and our fellow teachers?
Jesus Drew Close to the Father
Finally, in Mark 14:32–41, we find Jesus weary and overwhelmed by the burden he was to carry to the cross. But we also find that he went to Gethsemane and prayed. This “rest” looked different from the others; it was Jesus pouring out his sorrow to his Father, but also reaffirming his desire to do the Father’s will. Jesus brought his deepest sorrows to the Father, to connect with his greatest source of strength. In that strength, he finished the great work before him. I wonder how this busy season might be different for us if we bring our frustrations, stress, and anxieties to our Heavenly Father?
Jesus brought his deepest sorrows to the Father
Rest is Essential for Our Work
Research suggests that rest, which involves connection with the Father, each other, and our own human experience, is what we need to build our spiritual well-being. When we rest like Jesus, we experience stronger motivation, purpose, meaning, and relationships, even in the busy seasons. May we follow Christ’s example and learn to rest well!
–By Dr. Christy Mactavish