Seeking rest from troubling times 1

As we try to make sense of what is happening in the world at present, we can often feel quite defeated. When this happens we find ourselves in need of consolation. There are many ways to console ourselves; we can reach out to many distractions and substances. Is this the solution? Or, does this mean we are drawn away from our purpose?

It is easy to be distracted from our purpose when we are not clear about our purpose. As I continually say, our purpose is to consciously experience our I AM, our Higher Self, in our soul. It lies there dormant until we do.

We can only really come near it when we have the courage to know that when saying “I”, which makes us feel important, we only express ourselves through the mirrored reflection of our I AM. Experiencing the truth of this can be very troubling. We need ways of centering ourselves – of finding our I AM center.

One thing that works for me is to repeat these words to myself.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Mt 11.28-30

There is something about these words that is at the same time powerful but also mystifying. I thought I would explore the meaning of the original Greek words to see if I could reveal their true meaning. This, of course, is not fully possible, but at least a few hints can assist us to use them to calm and center ourselves and help make sense of these changing times.

The words, “Come to me” in Greek are deute pros ego. It is no surprise to find hidden within these words ‘ego eimi’, which mean I AM. “Deute” is an imperative form (no room for questions) of eimi. A new translation of “Come to me” can be “I AM near”.

When the I AM is near we can certainly feel weary and overloaded by the change that must take place in our soul. Weary, kopiao and heavy laden, phortizo refer to what happens when we focus on the physical and ignore our soul and spirit, we become exhausted and weighed down. “I will give you rest” where ‘I’ is not ego but kago which means the ‘self-same’ that is, the I AM. Rest is anapauo which means to keep quiet, to be of calm and patient expectation. This is exactly how we should approach the inclusion of our I AM in daily life. We can say:

“I AM near all who labor and are heavy laden, the same I AM will give you rest.”

Furthermore, we have to do it. We cannot beg for assistance from something outside us. Only when we show that we can do it ourselves will be assisted – which we do not need to request. Then our prayers are of gratitude for the assistance we receive.

Sacred Heart by Odilon Redon 1910