Sticky Rest – Devotion 30

Observing what is going on around us just might bring unexpected surprises.  I enjoy sitting outside and just watching.  Some find that “people watching” is interesting.  But for me, “nature watching” is way more fascinating.  If we just take a few moments and look, listen, and feel the rhythms of the earth, we might be pleasantly awakened.  We may become entranced by the simple.

Today, I find myself watching a tree frog.  To me, they are cute little creatures.  They are small yet resilient with an innate ability to cling to most any surface.  They can almost fly when they jump.  These are also all the reasons they frighten my wife.  She is always trying to avoid them while I am trying to watch them.  One tree frog found herself on the exterior wall of our house today.  She was probably leaping to get away from the dog torturing her.  But I noticed her as she made her way along the siding.  Around 8 feet up, she looked as though she effortlessly made her way.  She continued to move until she found just the right spot.  She actually disappeared from my sight (which is why I knew she was comfortable there).  She slid into the side of the window pane, unnoticed by other animals or passerby.  It was her safe space for the moment.  She could breathe, relax, and find reprieve.  She won’t be able to stay there forever – food awaits in other places.  But for now, she can simply rest.

This taught me that rest is important, even vital for our survival.  Sometimes we simply need to find our safe space and settle there for a moment.  Sure, we will have to leave that space eventually – we will get hungry.  But we can find a moment of rest and peace we often so desperately need.

Have you found your safe space to just rest?  Are you missing the value of a reprieve?  Is God’s creation speaking to you to take a time out?  May we find rest.

Focus Scripture:

Exodus 20:10-11

¹⁰ But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. ¹¹ For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery