One of my favourite spots in Brisbane is the Botanic Gardens near Mt Coot-tha. There you can wander through moist bamboo groves and arid areas that look a whole lot like sub-Sahara Africa. There are waterfalls, a tropical greenhouse, and the largest collection of Australian native rainforest trees in the world. But the best parts of the gardens are the resting spots.
I love gardens like the Brisbane Botanic Gardens where you can rest, relax, and reflect on life and what you see around you. You cannot rush through these gardens. You need to stop, look around, and listen! The best gardens have resting spots. A bench, a patch of grass, some lawn chairs. The path through a garden is more enchanting if it bends and turns and has resting spots along the way.
On one occasion, in the midst of the busyness of life, Jeannie and I visited the Botanic Gardens just to find one of those resting spots. It was a typical Queensland day -- lots of sunshine, and a gentle sea breeze. I recall us finding a resting spot under a large tree. There under its shade we spread a blanket and took an hour of our day just to rest. I recall looking around and there up in the tree was a pair of parrots feeding their young in the hollow of the tree. It was a pleasant hour leaving us rested and refreshed.
In Psalm 116:7 we read, "Return to your rest, my soul, for the LORD has been good to you." In life I have discovered that realising the goodness of God most often happens when I find myself in a resting spot, a place where I stop, look around, and listen! God gave us a Sabbath rest so that we might experience the goodness of God (see Exodus 31:13). In our resting spots we "taste and see that the LORD is good." (Psalm 34:8) It is amazing what you notice in a garden when you don't rush but stop to rest awhile. And it amazing what you notice about God when you also rest awhile.
What is true about gardens is also true about churches. Church life can be very hectic and rushed. But churches need resting spots, times when they stop, look around, and take notice. Healthy churches are not just intentional about ministry and programs; they are also put resting spots along the way. I like to suggest some ways a church might do this.
First, spend lots of time in prayer together. Pray, pray, pray. Jesus modelled the importance of prayer when Mark tells us that "very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up ... and went to a solitary place, where he prayed." (1:35) Later in Mark's gospel we find Jesus inviting his disciples to go to a solitary place with him: "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."(6:31) We come to a resting spot when we spend time together in prayer.
It should not surprise us that the apostle Paul instructed churches to "pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers" (Ephesians 6:18), and "in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:6) Consider also what Paul wrote to the Colossians: "Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful." (Colossians 4:2) We pray with open eyes -- and when we do, we notice what God has done! We are watchful. We notice things. As a result, our hearts overflow with thankfulness to God for all he has done and all he is doing. Like David we say, “Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.” (Psalm 40:5) But churches will hardly notice if they remain too busy to pray; churches need resting spots along the way.
Second, celebrate the milestones! Throughout Biblical history there have been God-appointed feasts to assist believers to remember God's action in times past. There were the seven feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles. On the seventh day of each week and on seven other times throughout the year God's people came to a resting spot where they took notice of God's blessings in life. As Christians we have been instructed to remember the Jesus' death each time we celebrate the Lord's Supper. We mark each first day of the week as the Lord's Day, the day of resurrection. Each time we stop, reflect, and recall God's saving acts in history. These resting spots ward off forgetfulness.
But there are other milestones that churches do well to stop and reflect on. Perhaps even celebrate. As Reformed Christians we remember the spiritual and biblical awakening of the Protestant Reformation. 31 October 1517 is the date etched on the pages of history! But we remember not just key spiritual awakenings. Every church resulted from a being planted or birthed. Your church too! In the churches I have served, each year we marked the birthday of our church with a celebration. We told the stories of our past. We remembered God's faithfulness over the years. We considered God’s leading in the future. These are resting spots -- times to stop, reflect, and rejoice in God's goodness to us.
Healthy churches do strategic planning. There is truth in the old adage: if you fail to plan you plan to fail. This involves setting goals and developing action plans. But an important part of good strategic planning is celebrating the wins -- not our wins, but the fruitfulness God brings about through our faithful ministry. It is good to mark out resting stops where we pause for a while, reflect, and give thanks to God for his many blessings.
There is another adage that rings true – too much work and too little play makes Jack a dull boy. My wife Jeannie might attest to that! As churches we might not only be too busy to pray but also too busy to play. So here is a third resting spot for churches: spend significant times to play together! Play together? Yes, play together! As church leaders we can be very focused on meetings, agendas, budgets, and programs – but I have discovered that some of the best moments I have had with church leaders is when we put aside all the business and simply fellowshipped together. A barbecue at someone’s home, a hike through some bushland, a game of golf, a river cruise – these are resting spots – times to build community, rejoice together, and enjoy the goodness of God with one another.
Life Groups in churches (or any other Small Group gathering) are often absorbed with Bible study, prayer, and ministry. But healthy small groups also spend time in socialising with one another. Sharing refreshments at a gathering (including small talk), enjoying table fellowship with each other over a meal, celebrating special days together, going out on social outings, camping or caravanning as couples/families, and a host of other kinds of getting together. Think again about Jesus’ words to his disciples: "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." (Mark 6:31) Whether it was enjoying a meal at someone’s home or going off with his friends to some quiet place away from the crowds, Jesus knew the importance of just doing life together. These are resting spots along the way.
Wisdom from the garden. In the bends and turns of every day healthy church life, some of the best spots are the resting spots. Spend lots of time in prayer together, celebrate the milestones, and don’t just pray together; play together!