Many of us know the feeling.  We do not have the energy we would like to have for all of the demands upon us, let alone for all that we yearn to do.  Some of us are busy now with graduations and weddings.  Others are organizing summer vacations and reunions.  Some of us are taking advantage of the warm weather to plant gardens or make house repairs.  All of us have worked at the church to make Holy Week, Easter, Pentecost, and our 125th Anniversary and Rededication meaningful events at which we welcomed many.  This passage hits us where we live.

Jesus' way to find new strength for himself and his apostles was to set aside a place and time for rest, prayer, study, and friendship.  They would go somewhere in the leisurely, pleasant company of one another to prayerfully seek the presence of God.   Jesus most certainly remembered that even for God rest was an integral part of work. 

Summer can provide that time away.  An evening in the backyard.  A day by the river.  A vacation with family or friends.  A retreat.  Recreation in the beauty of summer's lushness.  We also are Jesus' friends and followers.  We must admit that we are not indefatigable and that we cannot make ourselves whole.  We turn to the Creator who is the source of our re-creation. 

Jesus did not ask his friends to dig deeper within their reservoir of energy to find some untapped inner strength.  Jesus called them to a time of new vigor and new strength that can only be found in restful times with God.  In our busy lives this will only happen if we make it happen.  Let each of us take a while this summer for prayer, for rest, for friendships, and for our re-creation.