Resistance is Rest

As [Jesus] and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” – Mark 10:46b-48 (NRSV) 

There is no end to the moral demands of these dire days. There’s always a protest somewhere, a financial appeal for “the least of these,” a horrific breaking news story begging for our attention like Bartimeus, interrupting our progress from here to there. How will we ever get anything done if we stop for all of them?  

And yet: Jesus understood instinctively that ministry is in the interruptions. Author Tricia Hersey coined the phrase “Rest is resistance,” an antidote to the empire that wants to keep us overworking, distracted, and feeding the monstrous machines. But for some of us—particularly those of us who bear white skin and other forms of privilege that protect us from the worst of the harms happening—I suspect the resistance might be rest.  

Every time I clear my morning or afternoon of all the things I think I need to do and spend it supporting immigrants showing up for their ICE check-ins, or showing up to a city council meeting, or interrupting injustice anywhere, I find myself with more joy, strength and restfulness than if I’d had a spa day.  

Many voices within and without tell us to pass by the request—nay, the demand—for mercy. But if we can forego the convenience of our carefully planned schedule, we may just find ourselves able to say at the end of the day, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”  

Prayer
God, it’s not only ministry that lives in the interruptions. So do you. Let me become willing to be inconvenienced by the demands for mercy—and find rest in so doing. Amen.

About the Author
Molly Baskette is a UCC minister, psychedelic facilitator and author of books about church renewal, parenting, post-traumatic joy and more. Learn more at mollybaskette.com.