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Come Apart and Rest, August 15
And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert
place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going,
and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
Mark 6:31
.
He [Jesus] did not urge upon His disciples the necessity of ceaseless
toil.... “Come ye yourselves apart, ... and rest a while,” He says to those
who are worn and weary. It is not wise to be always under the strain of
work and excitement, ... for in this way personal piety is neglected, and
the powers of mind and soul and body are overtaxed.
Care needs to be exercised in regard to the regulation of hours
for sleeping and laboring. We must take periods of rest, periods of
recreation, periods for contemplation.
There are modes of recreation which are highly beneficial to both
mind and body.... Recreation in the open air, the contemplation of the
works of God in nature, will be of the highest benefit.
It is for our health and happiness to go out of our houses, and spend
as much of our time as possible in the open air.... We should invite our
minds to be interested in all the glorious things God has provided for us
with a liberal hand. And in reflecting upon these rich tokens of His love
and care, we may forget infirmities, be cheerful, and make melody in
our hearts unto the Lord.
Pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest, exercise, proper diet, the use
of water, trust in divine power—these are the true remedies.... Nature,
untrammeled, does her work wisely and well. Those who persevere in
obedience to her laws will reap the reward in health of body and health
of mind.
He [Jesus] found recreation amidst the scenes of nature.... His hours
of greatest happiness were found when He could turn aside from His
labors to go into the fields, to meditate in the quiet valleys, to hold
communion with God on the mountainside or amid the trees of the
forest.
We may ... make our seasons of recreation what the name implies—
seasons of true upbuilding for body and mind and soul.
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