Rest

 

In the summer of 1966, I worked for Barberry Sod Company in Darlington, Maryland.  We worked out in the country picking up sod from farmers’ fields, loading the sod on pallets, and shipping it to new apartment buildings in Baltimore.  One afternoon, a repaired sod cutter was delivered to the field and David and Ed started to unload it.  Being the “strong” high school junior that I was, I jumped up into the back of the pick-up truck and got the nose end of the sod cutter.  I soon learned that the front end was the heavy end because the engine was mounted on the nose.  As the two men slid the cutter out of the truck, the full weight of the machine came to bear on me.  And down it went … right onto my fingers.  As it slid off, my longest finger became my flattest finger.  Five stitches were needed to sew the tip back to somewhat normal.  I still have a scar there to remind me of that heavy sod cutter and my poor judgement.  Hey, have you found something to be heavier than you thought it would be?  I don’t mean a heavy weight; I mean heavy as in weighing down upon your soul.  Have you been up late at night worrying?  Has financial pressure weighed you down?  Have poor decisions that you have made in the past pressed down upon your shoulders?  Does worry over wayward children or ageing parents constantly creep into your thoughts?  Hey, Jesus can take your burden and make it His burden.  He said in Matthew Mat 11:28-30, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  Hey, Jesus can carry the heavy burdens that you are struggling with.  And He has promised to give you rest.  Doesn’t the word, “rest” sound great?  Rest.  And the cross that Jesus gives you to bear in exchange is no problem at all.  It’s nothing compared to your sleepless nights of worry.  Hey, why not roll your burdens onto the strong shoulders of Jesus.  He can carry them all.  And then, enjoy His rest.

Kathy Whitely

 

On May 6, 2025, my dear wife, Kathy, passed on to her eternal reward, and I miss her.  I loved her dearly and she loved me.  She challenged me to be the best man that I could be.  She had faith in my abilities - much more than I did.  She was a good mother, a good sister, a good daughter, and my best friend.  I miss her.  Thanks for the wonderful memories!  Psalm 116:15, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.”

In the Fast Lane

 

I was on the interstate the other day when a little Civic flew past cutting in front of me with only a few feet to spare.  His tuned exhaust sounded like a bumblebee as he shot ahead.  And in a moment, a little Fiat came from the other side cutting me off as he chased the Civic.  To them, driving at high speeds was a game, but to me it was a dangerous game.  I have seen too many accidents and seen too many years to drive the way those two were driving.  I suppose that I’m just an old man, but I want to grow older too.  Oh, I drove like those two kids back in my day, but back then I was driving a 36 horsepower five-speed Volkswagen with a top speed of 55 miles per hour.  I didn’t cut off anyone; I just crept past them when we went downhill.  As I think of life in the fast lane and life in the slow (older) lane, I think of God’s goodness to me.  Nahum 1:7: "The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him."  God is good.  Yes, He is.