A Deserted Place

In one of my favorite shows, “Parks and Recreation,” there is a scene where one of the characters, Jerry, is tasked with stuffing hundreds of envelopes with flyers as part of his volunteer work for a local city council campaign.

Jerry’s efficient, almost mechanical completion of the job amazes his coworkers, who gather to watch in awe while he folds, inserts, seals, and stamps — over and over again. After several hours, the huge pile of envelopes is finally ready for mailing … and Jerry realizes that he has stuffed them all with the wrong piece of paper.

“I always say, it ain’t government work unless you do it twice,” he quips as he restarts the task.

In any work, no matter how worthy or fulfilling it is, there is a point where the task transforms into mere routine. It can happen with anything: ministry, marriage, parenthood, even prayer. There is no shame in this. It doesn’t mean that we don’t enjoy these pursuits or feel passion for the mission inherent in them.

It only means that we are human, and we get tired.

When the Apostles return from their travels, Jesus recognizes their exhaustion. He encourages them to “come away to a deserted place.” He inhabits a human body, so he knows the weariness to which it is subject. He knows what it is to be tired, to be hungry. He knows that it’s hard to do the work when your body is failing you.

It’s important for us to recognize those times when Jesus is calling us to a deserted place — and it’s important for us to follow him there, even if we are pursued by feelings of doubt and guilt, just as the Apostles were followed by crowds hungry for their ministry. 

Solitude is not selfishness. Contemplation is not idleness. To withdraw does not mean to run away.

The work we do — whatever it is — deserves our whole strength. If we have lost that, there is only one place we are sure to find it again.

“He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.’” — Mark 6:31

©LPi