August 2, 2012   Susan and I returned yesterday from Montana. While there, we had a great visit with Jim and Linda Fordyce and 8 wonderful days at the Meadow Creek Retreat cabin which was made available to us by Jerry and Lu Ann Broekhuis, friends of the Navigators.  It is located in Fortine, MT. less than 20 miles south of the Canadian border. We enjoyed seeing the mountain ranges,  majestic valleys,  swift running rivers, clear streams, sunsets, vast forests, and wildlife, such as deer, elk, mountain goats, moose and pheasants. Susan and I took a drive each evening to catch sight of the deer as they would come out of the forest to graze. We also enjoyed doing some hiking together. 

We arrived at the cabin on a Monday and I thought we had arranged to leave on the following Monday.  When I mentioned that to Susan, she said, "I sure could use more time here." It was on Thursday when I glanced at the schedule in the cabin that I realized we had until Wednesday -- two more days than I had thought.  We rejoiced and really profited from the extra days  to rest, reflect and be restored.

Sabbatical comes from the word Sabbath, which denotes day of rest.  Early in June, our Sabbatical Advisers reminded us that the goal of our first two months on Sabbatical is just that --  Rest!  Susan had been quite busy with the needs of her mother in the first half of July so was really ready for this time in Montana. She is feeling much more refreshed now.

Matthew 11:28-30 is an invitation by Jesus to come to Him and receive rest. He also says that if we will take His yoke upon us we will find rest for our soul. The idea of "finding" rest brings with it the idea that we have lost rest for our soul. We are already profiting from this time of Sabbatical in finding  rest for our souls. We already sense more hunger for God's Word and more room in our hearts for Him.

Today I called our daughter Michele and wished her a happy birthday. She is 34 today and enjoying life with her husband, Matt, and their 3 children.