Out of Barrenness

In his book, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander, Thomas Merton reflects on the “Parable of Ox Mountain of Menicus,” noting the importance of the “night spirit” and the “dawn breath” in restoring to life the forest that had been cut down. He writes:

“Even though the Ox Mountain forest has been cut to the ground, if the mountain is left to rest and recuperate in the night and the dawn, the trees will return. But men cut them down, cattle graze on the new shoots: no night spirit, no dawn breath – no rest, no renewal – and finally one is convinced that there never were any woods on the Ox Mountain. So, Menicus concludes, with human nature. Without the night spirit, the dawn breath, silence, passivity, rest, man’s nature cannot be itself. In its barrenness it is no longer natural: nothing grows from it, nothing is born of it anymore.”

In discussions on this topic, a few people have shared with me the importance for them of fasting one day a week; fasting, not from food, but from television or cable network news, or even from the computer altogether. Others have worked hard to regain some sense of sabbath – a day to refrain from work, email, and even household chores. I don’t believe there is a right or wrong way to go about it. However, I do believe it is worth asking the question: In our fast pasted technological society, what do rest and renewal look like for me?

In Isaiah (30:15) we read this promise:

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:
 In returning and rest you shall be saved;
     in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.

Let us pray: God of grace, sometimes our lives do feel barren. We are all too familiar with anxiety and stress. Show us those things from which we need rest, and lead us to practices that are life-giving. And then, by your Holy Spirit, heal us, renew us, and restore us. Amen.