The Easy Yoke

 

 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy
and my burden is light.” Matthew 11.

“Jesus, you are joking!
I am overwhelmed
I don’t know how
I am going to do all
The things I should do,
And all the things I want to do.

And this is what you offer me?
A yoke?

But I am already heavily laden
By the imperatives of my own ambition.

How take on an additional yoke?”

* * *

“Take it.
Take it.

For then
You will no longer be alone.

I will walk with you through the weary way
Shouldering half your yoke.

Let me guide you.
Let me astonish you with the efficiency
When you and I walk together,
In the unforced rhythms of grace.

When you refuse to rush ahead,
Without waiting for me to walk beside you.

We will go only as far as necessary
Do only what is necessary.

We will go through our day
In a slow measured pace.

Taking rest breaks,
Food breaks, drink breaks,

Chewing the cud breaks.
You will talk to me through our day,
Asking advice as we travel the narrow way
And I will answer,

And when the day is done,
We will rest together,
And I will comfort you.”