A Religious Relaxation Response: “I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord. Forever with my mouth will I proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.”  (Psalm 89 vs 1)

     The Rector of this parish, the Rev. William Exner, is on vacation this Sunday with his family.  It is summer after all,  and it has been some time since he strung together some real days off.  What is he doing as we speak?  Odds are good he and Jane are worshipping with newly wed daughter Ellen and son in law John at Church of the Advent in Boston where they live.  (They like the smells and bells every once in a while.)

     We all need some days off.  In fact , not a few of you who have sought out the Rector for pastoral advice have perhaps heard him suggest that sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself and those who depend on you is ‘call in well’ once in a while.   You’ve heard of calling in sick right?  Our rector says sometimes you need to call in too well to work – or call it a day to recharge and get well enough to work your best and live your best and love your best.  I guess you could say this Sunday our Rector is practicing what he preached, he’s on vacation – he called in well. 

   Now, vacations have been getting tough to come up with for Americans the past 10 years or so.  Statistics show that never have we worked more hours, never before have we been more productive as individual workers,  AND YET rarely have we struggled as much JUST to get by as most working class people and not a few middle class people are struggling the last few years, especially this year.

  You know that story,  most of us live that story every day.  The question related to our faith and spiritual wholeness in times like these is ,  to quote the 121^st psalm, “From where is our help to come?”.

Whether we get to take real vacations or not – whether we are gaining or losing financial ground or not these days is not the only question. A more important question  in this present time is, from where can we derive some inner peace ?

     From where might you find a way to recharge and refresh and renew your energy and outlook?  The short answer is ,  to quote the same psalm, “Your help is in the name of the Lord , Maker of heaven and earth”. 

    There are ‘holy helps’ to refresh and renew you on a Summer Sunday morning in New England early in the 21^st century. There are many holy helps to guide you to wholeness for a lifetime. Your help IS in the name of the Lord. So what do you and God need to work out?

  + First of all, do exactly what you are doing now: First thing in the morning bring yourself to God in the house of God.  Through prayer and worship with other people of faith you are recalibrating your inner compass to help you find your way, and maybe lead the way for someone else, in the days to come.   You are most welcome here in the house of God and so is your neighbor.   This is your spiritual home.  This is where God finds you and ‘deep cleans’ you and inspires fresh starts while sparking new insights.  As the Gospel of Matthew says so well , “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me”, and , “… none of these will lose their reward.” (Mt. 10)   Step one,  start off in a welcoming place , in God’s presence.

  + Next be sure that you learn ways to pray and methods to relax and practice them regularly.  This is crucial for your well being.  Nobody needs to tell you that life is pretty hectic these days.  We are pushed and pulled from many directions.  There are many sources of stress in our lives, some of which we can do something about and some of which are today outside of your direct control. 

   Modern medicine shows clearly that the more we use the God given ability to manage stress and strain, the happier and healthier we will be.   Some research suggests that up to 80% of the illness we encounter , and a number of the problems we face  are the direct result of stress and strain.  Put another way, the better we gain skills and spiritual resources for managing our stresses and challenges the better life will be AND feel. 

    Sometime this summer pick up the Bible and read through the Gospel of St. Luke the Physician paying special attention to the rhythm of Jesus’ life contained therein.  Yes Jesus practiced what he preached,  involving himself in the lives of individuals and his Church, and  he approached the State and Society from the stance of  a very active faith,  BUT note how Jesus also withdrew regularly to recharge spiritually too. 

   Jesus established a rhythm in his life, a tempo of engagement and effort followed by a regular time for quiet, for prayer, for reflection and rest.  This is an example of the balance that you and I would do well to copy in our daily lives.   There are ways to breathe and stretch and meditate and worship and rely on God and take spiritual control of your day that can make all the difference for you in your daily living.

    Again, it starts with God,  and your continued wellbeing is served by taking short, five and 10 minute mini vacations daily with your Maker and, when you  take more responsibility for the pace of your life,  be sure to ‘call in well’ and take some real time off , from the pace not from God, too.  What would Jesus do?  He devoted some regular time with God, and he called in well,  AND HE LIVED FULLY and faithfully TOO.  This summer , go and do likewise.

   Jesus said , “Come unto me all ye who travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.”  That is the truth.   Regular , daily, quiet time with Christ – whether you are praying with words of concerns and petitions for help, or whether you bathe in a stream of clear pure holy silence, regular quiet time with the compassionate Savior will soothe and strengthen you from the inside out. It will change your life for good and forever.  

   In closing  it may be helpful to note that some time ago the composer Joseph Hayden was asked why his church music was so much more joyful and full than most of his contemporaries.  After some reflection Hayden responded, “I cannot make it otherwise. I write according to my thoughts and when I think about God, my heart is so full of joy that notes dance and leap from my pen. God seizes my hand and forces the cheerful from me and I am lost in rejoicing.” 

   May this summer morning be the beginning of many refreshing meetings with your Savior.    May you feel always welcome here in God’s soothing presence.  And may you seek and discover God’s steadfast help  for the asking  to fill your heart whenever , like Hayden and countless other souls, you set your mind on God.   Friend,  know the peace of Christ…. Relaxation and rest…. It’s good for you. It is promised you.  Amen