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Will you make Space to Sharpen your Saw?

Once upon a time two friends were cutting down a tree. They were young, fit and strong and they usually cut through trees in no time with their huge two person saw.

After they had been sawing for some time, they both began to realize that something was wrong. They were so far behind their schedule that they began to try even harder. As they did so, they realized that they were nearing the point of exhaustion.

As a stranger passed by, a conversation ensued:

‘You look tired.’

‘No, we’re fine. We know what we are doing.’

‘Have you thought about sharpening ‘your saw?

‘We’re much too busy to stop and sharpen our saw! We just need to cut this tree down as fast as we can’

I heard this story on Sunday at Bluntisham Baptist Church. The sermon was about the sabbath but of all the many helpful things the preacher said, it was this story that impacted me the most. I came away mulling over how rest and pausing to seek a renewed perspective can make us sharper and more effective.

Trying harder isn’t always the right answer!

Rest can Result in Revival: Jesus sat by a well for a rest. A few hours later, many people in the nearby town had become believers. (John 4)

Spending Tim with God in our Everyday lives is Essential: Jesus made space to pray and he also spent 40 days in the wilderness. (I love the reminder in this that a time of spiritual retreat doesn’t have to involve inactivity. My most fulfilling retreat was a long distance walk I engaged in along the Great Glen Way).

Take a moment to ask yourself:

Am I so busy running Projects that I don’t have enough time for People?

Am I so overwhelmed with Responsibilities that I  don’t have enough time for Relationships?

Am I rushing to fulfil our own Plans rather than Pausing to seek God’s kingdom Perspective?

My experience of church life over the years is that often we fall short in each of these areas. Church life is normally extremely busy!

At Bluntisham on Sunday, the sermon finished with several minutes to sit and to be still. We listened to music and looked at some images as we rested. This opportunity to pause and seek God’s perspective was a wonderful gift!

Are you ready to to Press Pause?

Whether it is to sharpen our saws, to sit by a well or to walk in the wilderness, my prayer is that each of us would know and experience more of God’s continued presence and leading.

Our latest Thought for the week has been written by Graeme Ross who is one of the Regional Team

Picture source Picryl