“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30 The Message)

July 2023 was a much needed month of Sabbatical rest after nearly 30 years of serving in ministry. I was, and continue to be, grateful for the gift extended to me by Jesus to “get away and recover my life.” Fueled by a desire to say yes to whatever the Holy Spirit was doing in my soul, I set out each day to “keep company” with God and cooperate with the inner-work that leads to life.

My place of sojourn was Rocky Mountain National Park, just over an hour to the west of my home in North Denver. Armed with my camera and curiosity, I regularly left my house in the dark and beelined it to the majestic peaks and quiet trails where I could return to listening and receiving. That posture sounds a lot healthier than striving and constantly pouring out, doesn’t it?

Ten days into my adventure of being with Jesus I came around a corner on the trail to Sky Pond and saw a couple guys standing quietly and staring at a couple medium-sized elk right next to the trail. It’s a good thing those guys were there because I was trucking pretty fast and might’ve spooked the elk. As it turns out, we quietly watched as these magnificent Elk slowly crossed the trail and lept up on some boulders for a different view.

As great as that moment was, the best was yet to come. Suffice it to say, I wasn’t trucking along any more. I was alert, paying attention, hoping I would see more wildlife around the next turn. My curiosity was on full tilt and my soul was soaring as I thanked Jesus for the amazing gift of his loving presence in creation.

Walking in a more relaxed manner now, I came into a clearing and saw about 10 elk, including a couple spotted calves, quietly resting and eating. The image above felt like a gift as one of the elk deigned to pose for my photo.

The invitation to slow down and be with Jesus is more than just a nice idea. It’s actually possible. We must pay attention, become curious, and turn aside to what God wants to show us. This is what cooperation looks like. In healthy relationships, we choose to work together (co-operate) toward a common goal. For me, the goal has been to recognize God’s faithfulness in my life and in the world and to remain in his loving gaze.

Have you heard the good news? The King of Glory is coming!

Who is this King?

He’s the LORD, strong and mighty. He’s the God of Angel Armies. He’s the Creator of the earth and sky and all that exists - everything, everwhere - world without end.

“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all its peoples belong to him.” (Psalm 24:1 NLT)

He’s the Faithful One who called Abraham and Sarah and promised more descendants than could ever be counted.. He came through on his promise and a nation was born through “King-Glory’s” covenant. He’s the Redeemer and Rescuer who delivered the Israelites from the Pharoah and brought them out of Egypt. He’s the Great I Am who came near to Moses and revealed himself as “Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy…slow to anger, filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.” (Ex. 34:6)

He’s Immanuel (God With Us) who enters our darkness with love’s piercing light. ‘He lavishes unfailing love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion and sin.’ (Psalm 34:7a)

Our coming King is holy and just - without sin. Who can stand in his presence? Yet he took on flesh and became a “friend of sinners,” showing us that union with Love’s Family is possible, not by our doing but by God’s amazing grace.

Wake up, you sleepyheard city!
Wake up, you sleepyhead people!
King-Glory is ready to enter. (Psalm 24:7 The Message)

I’ve been waiting for this day! Psalm 23 has been a sure guide for my soul over the years. When I started my Advent journey of meditating (and writing) on a Psalm a day, I mentally circled this day on the calendar.

Dallas Willard’s book, “Life Without Lack,” will be the text book for my time with God today. As I type out his words, unpacking the phrases of the 23rd psalm, I pray the Holy Spirit will do a restoring work in me.

My heart is overflowing with joy as I dwell in the presence of Jesus, my good Shepherd. As I anticipate Christmas day,  I want all the parts that make me who I am to be brought closer still. I’m making my way to the Holy Child in Bethlehem. Along with the Shepherds, I rejoice at the proclamation of Christ’s birth. I must go see for myself.

(The following is from Life Without Lack by Dallas Willard,, pp.xviii-xix)

The Lord is my shepherd.
In other words, I’m in the care of someone else. I’m not the one in charge. I’ve taken my kingdom and surrendered it to the kingdom of God. I am living the with-God life. The Lord is my shepherd. And what follows from that?

I shall not want.
That’s the natural result. I shall not lack anything. That’s what Jesus teaches: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” and everything else will be added (Matt.6:33).

He makes me to lie down in green pastures.
What kind of a sheep lies down in a green pasture? A sheep that has eaten its fill. If a sheep is in a green pasture and she’s not full, she’ll be eating, not lying down.

He leads me beside the still waters.
A sheep that is being led beside still water is a sheep that is not thirsty…

He restores my soul.
The broken depths of my soul are healed and reintegrated in a life in union with God: the eternal kind of life.

“A wicked and foolish man truly believes there is no God. They are vile, their sinfulness nauseating to their Creator; their actions are soiled and repulsive; every deed is depraved; not one of them does good.” (Psalm 14:1 The Voice)

I recently pulled G.K. Chesterton’s “Orthodoxy” off my bookshelf and jumped in with joy. I love his brilliant mind and playful exploration of Christianity. Here’s how one author summarizes Chesterton’s approach:

“Chesterton criticizes modern philosophers for erasing religion. Modern philosophies encourage people to over-analyze everything, including religion, and when we question something too deeply, we stop believing in it. He suggests that Christianity is simple enough to answer life’s questions while mysterious enough to keep us guessing.” (https://www.supersummary.com/orthodoxy/summary/)

As we sit with Psalm 14, we pick up on this same sentiment from David. The foolish person, in an attempt to be wise, actually thinks their way into believing God does not exist. As the psalm continues, the outline of the foolish person is filled in with the following complaints:

• They are corrupt;

• They only think of themselves;

• They turn their backs and walk their own roads;

• They use other people for their own gain;

• They reject the reality of their Creator;

• They laugh at those who put their trust in God;

• They attempt to rationalize and reason away another person’s hope.

The conclusion of this list of grievances, Psalm 14:7, stands as a powerful rejection of this mad form of wisdom which leads to complete abandonment of faith.

Psalm 13 begins with another deep cry from the depths of David’s soul: “O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?” (v.1 NLT)

Perhaps, in an attempt for us to fully grasp the desperation of these first few verses, we need to go out to a solitary place and say the words ourselves. Maybe we need to groan them…or cry them out! We’re so familiar with the story of David, with the complaints and the raw emotions, that we’re actually less able to locate ourselves, and our  circumstances, in the story.

No, not David’s actual story. Our story! Dietrich Bonhoeffer said it perfectly:

“Celebrating Advent means learning how to wait.… Not all can wait – certainly not those who are satisfied, contented, and feel that they live in the best of all possible worlds! Those who learn to wait are uneasy about their way of life, but yet have seen a vision of greatness in the world of the future and are patiently expecting its fulfillment.” (from Plough Daily Email, 2022.12.02)

David knows how to wait! Let’s not mistake his questions for a lack of patience. He’s willing to sit in the reality of what is, pay attention to the broad spectrum of emotions, name the emotions, bring them to God, and turn his lament into a declaration of God’s goodness.

Might this be a demonstration of emotionally healthy spirituality?

Here’s the pivot: “Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.” (v.3)

Even as David is shifting from his very real turmoil, he’s counting on God to make the turn toward him. This deep awareness of a “vision of greatness in the world of the future” doesn’t happen by accident. We can’t really “will” ourselves into it. We must nurture this level of surrender across a lifetime of Advents!

“The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, and who look forward to something greater to come. For these, it is enough to wait in humble fear until the Holy One himself comes down to us, God in the child in the manger.” (Bonhoeffer, ibid.)

For all who are crushed and harassed by those who hold power over them, God is a safe place, a stronghold, a trustworthy refuge in times of trouble. We know David, the author of Psalm 9, retreated to places of refuge when he was being chased through the wilderness. These strongholds would give David a bird’s eye view of his enemies while remaining hidden, safe and secure.

Even more than the physical safety of a high shelter, David found his greatest security in the LORD.

“I will praise YOU, Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all the marvelous things YOU have done.
I will be filled with joy because of YOU.
I will sing praises to YOUR name, O Most High.” (v.1-2)

“My enemies retreated; they staggered and died when YOU appeared.” (v.3)

David rehearsed his reliance on God and proclaimed his trust in the Mighty One who would never abandon those who wait on Him.