These Are My JOTtings, Part #2

Learning to Rest

How do we learn to rest in the world
when every day more becomes more
of the things, that we do as the rushing is twirled,
while we wonder what we are here for?

How do we find time to help all of these,
our fellowmen, needing some peace?
How do we have energy to answer the pleas
of pain, that is needing release?

How do we have time to look in the face
of just one lone customer, who's sad?
Will meeting some need bring us social disgrace,
since not "keeping up" is quite bad?

The fam'ly we love needs some time from us, too,
and "my dear little brain" needs a breath.
So, what did our parents and grandparents do
to keep their own minds from this "death?"

They had their own cars, but fewer back then.
They had their own phones on the wall.
They had their own jobs, but Weather told when
they'd do as the greatest needs call.

We must find rest in God somehow.
We must find rest in Him.
We must find time to sit and bow
to sing some verse of hymn.

Rest. Rest. Sweet rest.
Hope in His Peace.
Grace. Grace meets test.
Swift steps must cease.

by Jay O’Toole
on June 25th, 2024