“Come to me all who are weary, and I will give you rest.”

As the main congregation heard this verse (Matthew 11:28) as part of the gospel reading last Sunday, the children were also reflecting on its meaning up in the Old Library. We discussed how tiredness at the end of the school term, and during hot weather, can result in changes of behaviour: when we are tired, we may feel more frustrated, more emotional, perhaps less patient with others. We also discussed different types of tiredness: the physical tiredness we may experience after sports day, compared to spiritual tiredness.

We all experience fluctuating energy levels throughout our lifetime, and some of us may be feeling particularly tired for all kinds of reasons: health issues; burnout; compassion fatigue; processing loss, bereavement or trauma; or life circumstances such as caring responsibilities and/or stressful jobs. Members of the clergy are expected to take regular retreats in order to recharge their spiritual batteries and help safeguard their spiritual wellbeing. However, it is not just ordained ministers who will feel the need to take a retreat in order to spend some time focusing on their spiritual lives. There are bursaries available for those who may struggle to pay for a retreat, for example the APR bursary scheme.

For some, taking a residential retreat may not be realistic. Sometimes, finding time to come to Jesus, may look like taking an hour or even minutes out of our day or weekly schedule in order to be quiet and seek God. The great irony is, the less time I feel I have for quiet, reflective encounters with God, the more I most certainly need them.