The disciples came back from preaching and anointing and driving out demons. They told Jesus the stories. We can guess that they were excited. And while they were telling stories, and hearing the responses of Jesus, there were people. A constant stream of people. So many people, so many interruptions, that the Twelve were not even able to eat.
Like the stream of interruptions from a 2-year-old. Or from a pager. Or from a fading memory and failing body.
And Jesus says, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
They got into a boat. They went to a place that was solitary. And up to 15,000 people showed up in the next few hours. Jesus extended his compassion to the crowd, too. Jesus taught the 15,012 people through the day. By the end of the day, they were back in the boat, without Jesus, with a massive basket of food each.
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And so, a blessing for Monday.
May the rest you get be enough for the work that you have to do.
May the food you get be enough to sustain you in the work you have to do.
May the presence of Jesus be enough to sustain you in the work you have to do.
Or, perhaps better, may the presence of Jesus be enough to sustain you.
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300 words a day 