A TREE BY THE SEA

Buried under a heavy load I’ll travel even further along this dusty road. Beat me, prod me, goad me farther still. Push me, pull me until I’ve crested the last hill. My tongue is dry, my lips are parched. I’m not sure how long I’ve marched.

Cool water, fresh and sweet, a relief from the arid heat. I bow and allow the burdens to be heaped, balance and strain as I square my feet. The rest was delicious but brief. Our journey is long, but I am strong, willing to keep my devotion pure to the master who leads.

My ears bend slightly keen to your words. Assuring you that when you speak I’ve heard. When you command I always obey. When you say go I would never stray. Even if each step brings a new pain. I’m not afraid.

I was built to bare your heaviest load. I was built for this road, yet sometimes I see you stumble along. I’m reminded that you’re not really that strong. As you pull me, prod me, and push me on, I know I don’t really belong to you like you seem to believe. I know that the choice is up to me. I could stubbornly resist and sit when you ask me to stand. I could run the other way or nip your hand.

But the wild no longer calls to me. I know what it means to be free. The cold, the hunger, the lions looking for prey. Even on my most difficult day, when I’ve used the last of my strength I can be grateful and give thanks. As I lower my head and move steadily on I think of a manger with tender hay heaped upon that I’ll eat until the last straw is gone. I’ll be safe and warm in a stable secured, the thick stone walls calm my nerves.

So frail man, I’ll submit to your plans. I’ll walk beside you, I’ll meet your demands. You are unaware, but I understand that you too bare a burden, struggling to stand under a crushing weight of fear. It’s not hard for me to hear the tremble in your voice as I adjust my ear. Uncertainty, a hesitation as you draw another breath. I sense your quickened pulse, I smell the sweat. As you lean lean against me, I feel your regret.

In my humility I’ll allow you your pride. I’ll reassure you as you look into my gentle eyes. I’ll forgive you when you’ve been unkind. But master, let me remind you that we both will return to the same dust. The end will be the same for us.

So as you urge me along this uneven path there is one thing I ask. Make sure that as we labor to fulfill your tasks you make time for your rest, to relieve your stress. Lay down your burdens for a time. Relax. Though I know you strive, your work will never be done. With each new day and rising sun your hunger returns. Wages must be earned. But let me urge you to rest from your works. Our time is short on this earth. Don’t let your fear of tomorrow curse you with a yoke you were never meant to bare.  Dear master, you are weary, you are tired and scared.

So listen as I advise laboring at your side. There is a yoke that is easy and a burden that is light. There is One who once chose to ride a donkey like me. He first came to a city with no room for His birth, no bed, little comfort, certainly no accommodations a King would deserve. His first breaths came in the night’s still air, the donkey’s left over dinner stuck in his slick dark hair. The animal stood quietly listening to him suckle at his mother’s breast. He closed his eyes and enjoyed his rest.

This young King grew into a powerful man. He healed the sick and claimed he could forgive sins, an affront to the men who knew God’s plans. His very existence a challenge to those who labored to keep the law, who thought the only way to draw close to God, was sacrifice and bitter work. They knew that every sin needed a blood cover. So this Jesus who said, “Go now and sin no more,” to a shamed woman, a disgraced whore, caused the religious soul to recoil. It infuriated them. It made their blood boil. So what should we make of their toil? They fasted, they prayed, they memorized the word and gave a tenth of all they earned. Shouldn’t their work be valued too? Can we trust that the law is true?

Another young donkey stood waiting to be untied. The King chose him to ride. The colt bowed to accept his load. The King was seated on his back padded with cloaks. Over a palm strewn street the colt carefully stepped as the crowd pressed crying out to the King he could sense the unrest. Though he had never been ridden the colt skillfully went. He could feel the burden the man carried was immense. Every emotion intense. Each desperate cry from the crowd made him wince. And the donkey felt as though his back may break under the unbearable weight. Though the burden was great, he knew it was small compared to the fate the donkey sensed awaited the King. The colt could smell the hate lingering as they entered the temple gate, he could hear the leaders murmuring, and he knew this King would not escape.

So dear master please listen as my story unfolds. Don’t hold your heaviness too close, I want you to know a lesson we can learn from the colt. You see he carried the King to a sure death, and then he was able to rest. He left the King in the midst of the crowd and was led away leaving behind their shouts. His mission complete, the colt made his quiet retreat. Though carrying the King had drained his strength and the shouting crowd had gained him angst, the donkey knew to cast his burdens aside. He suddenly felt light.

You see now master, the King didn’t intend that you should never work. He didn’t abolish the law when He destroyed the curse. But I want you to learn. Don’t let your work be driven by fear. This is the message you need to hear. In love the King laid his life down. It’s with this love he offers you to be bound. With cords of love He draws you now. So master don’t hesitate. Know true peace can be found. Because this life will crush us with each heavy step we take. So be careful master and don’t make the mistake of never entering the King’s rest. When Jesus offers you this love, accept.

You will have to let go of your worry, but please don’t be so afraid. Dear master, didn’t the King say, that the law is fulfilled when you can love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? You will have to love others like you love yourself, but even in this command the King will help. So cast every one of your cares on Him and believe. Submitting to the King will bring you ease. Not to just go and do everything you please, but to receive a real and lasting peace. Take it from me, your humble servant, the donkey.