A Respite

Unlike some people, I do not like snow. To me snow only brings worry. How will I get to work? Will the kids be in or out of school? How safe will my husband be on the road as he travels with his job? The only time I vaguely like snow is in the evening, when everyone is home. The snow has to be perfect – pristine and white. I can look out the window or stand on the porch and say, “Wow, that’s just beautiful.” That lasts for about 15 minutes.

So, yesterday, driving home, with the windows down and the sun roof open, my book on tape playing, was a nice respite from the worries of snowy weather.

I think, sometimes, we all need a break. One scripture this week in my reading has bounced around my brain. It’s from 1 Kings 19:1-9. Elijah, a prophet in Israel, had just had a showdown with the Prophets of Baal. Chapter 18 is full of large images – 450 Baal prophets trying to outdo Elijah and God; God acting to demonstrate his power. Finally, the Baal prophets defeated, Elijah kills them. The drought finally ends, and Ahab (a horrible king) goes back to Jezebel (his horrible wife) and tells her what happened.

Elijah is empty. He’s just killed 450 men (and righteous or not, this had to effect him). He is fleeing for his life. He’s wishing he would die, and he tells God, “It’s too much, Lord.” I can almost hear the desperation in his voice. What does God do? He had a lot of options. He could have:

• Told Elijah to stop being such a wimp and get back to work. The job wasn’t done.
• Told Elijah that despair was a sin and against God’s will.
• Reminded Elijah that He (God) was with him. He (Elijah) could do anything with the power of God.
• Abandoned Elijah and found Himself another prophet.

God didn’t do any of those things. Instead, he cares for Elijah. Israel is going “to hell in a handbasket,” but God takes the time to care for a single man. God sends angels to feed Elijah, more than once. He prepares him for the trip that he must make next. In fact, God’s loving care was enough to enable Elijah to walk forty days to Mt. Sinai. There, God takes the time to listen to Elijah, and through furious winds, earthquakes, fires, and a soft whisper, God revitalizes Elijah’s spirit, just as He had revitalized Elijah’s body under the tree.

To me, that’s who our God is. He’s there with us on the mountain when we’re fighting against the prophets of Baal, doing His work, and He’s there with us when we collapse under a tree in the desert, empty and frightened, needing His help.

Sometimes we need a respite. It’s not sinful; it’s rejuvenating. It’s a chance for God to restate his mission for us, or to just hold our hand and hand us bread. If we do it often enough, then maybe our respite will be an afternoon on a park bench instead of a desperate, life-doubting, crushing time under a tree.