Laundry & Oxen
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” - Matthew 11:28-30 MSG
Friends of ours adopted three kids in addition to their three biological children.
Recently the mom shared how she broke down while carrying a large load of laundry. Not able to hoist it over a baby gate they’d installed for their dog, Jen sat on the floor and started to cry.
God reminded my friend of Matthew 11:28-30. As Jen pulled out individual pieces of laundry, she sensed the Spirit speak:
Are you carrying worry and things I haven’t asked you to carry?
Are you hauling hurts that are not for you to heal?
You’re exhausted by assignments I never asked you to complete.
For the last several years, I have felt impressed to share this same verse with trainees at T.R.A.C.life National Leadership Training. Through mentoring, God has been teaching me about the natural rhythms of just doing life together with others.
Living out the gospel is really not nearly as complicated as I can make it. The simplest of things I often overlook are important to an at-risk kid who just wants someone to listen while playing a board game or cooking together.
The NLT version of Matthew 11:29 reads, “Take my yoke upon you . . . let me teach you.”
One ox can carry its weight. When oxen are yoked, the two can carry three times their combined weight. But when a younger ox is yoked with an older ox, the older ox bears the weight so the younger can learn to listen to its master’s voice. In short bursts, two oxen who have trained together to listen to their master can carry ten times their combined weight.
Isn’t this what God wants us to do at T.R.A.C. and T.R.A.C.life?
To live not only for Him, but from Him. With Him. We weren’t meant to carry the weight of all we attempt to lift. We can’t shoulder the pain these traumatized youth bring to camp or mentoring.
But the Master is able. And the load He gives us is manageable, designed to fit each one of us individually.
The world doesn’t need me with a little bit of Jesus. The world needs a dead me and a resurrected Jesus.
Our campers and mentees need the Master who will walk with them and show them how to live out the unforced rhythms of grace.
