This week, I’ve been thinking a lot about rest and how Jesus invites us to come to him when we feel heavy-laden; he provides us with that holy rest that only he can.
For some of us, rest is a long nap, a bubble bath, cooking a meal with music playing or sitting on the beach. As a highly energetic person, I have never identified with some of these more traditional forms of rest. When I try them, I don’t feel rejuvenated afterward, I feel more restless.
For me, rest is shoving my feet into a pair of cleats, slathering on sunscreen that I will soon sweat off, and running around with my ultimate frisbee team, Nashville ‘Shine.
Many of you know that when I’m not at church, I fill my time coaching and playing competitive ultimate frisbee. I fell in love with the sport during my freshman year in high school. I was running track and field at the time, and a very cool Senior girl convinced me to attend a frisbee practice. I quit track soon after and have never looked back.
I have traveled to California and Colorado, Hawaii and even Colombia to play ultimate. I have coached at the elementary school level and competed at the semi-professional level. I have suffered concussions, ankle sprains, fractured thumbs and even bitten through my tongue (that one hurt), all for the love of this sport.
I have been lucky enough to play on teams in Georgia, Washington state and North Carolina, but my favorite team is my current one, Nashville ‘Shine. You have probably seen some of my teammates in the pews every now and then. Although many of them don’t identify as religious or attend a church regularly, they come to worship to hear a message of hope, feel our warm welcome, and take part in a gathering filled with music, prayer and the breaking of bread.
It has been hard to explain my vocation to other players and teammates. You don’t find many pastors in the ultimate community. But over the last few years, my teammates have surprised me by embracing my call to ministry. I’ll never forget how they squeezed into a pew at my ordination. But their support goes beyond attending a service or two.
They have helped me cook for and host our homeless neighbors at Room in the Inn. They have baked cakes for our youth fundraiser, painted banners for our Advent worship services, connected me with speakers for our affordable housing panel, baked communion bread for our Pride Ecumenical service, and helped me hide Easter eggs for the kids to find. They understand what it means to be on a team, even a team that we don’t get to pick, like church. I am constantly humbled by their willingness to serve here, even if none of them “go here.”
Juggling frisbee and ministry has been a tricky balance since I began working in churches. I have driven back from tournaments late on Saturday nights and taken 6am flights on Sunday mornings, all to make it to church that day. My love for Jesus and for this sport makes life a bit more logistically complicated–but far more spiritually enriching.
I am grateful for a church that honors the way that I rest, and allows others to find their own form of rest, too. It means a lot to me that our community values the many ways we glorify God and find deep rest in the One who always provides for us when we are heavy-laden.
This weekend, I’m heading to Indianapolis for a tournament called “Elite Select Challenge” with my team. We will play teams from San Francisco, Philadelphia and Salt Lake City. Cheer us on as we try to bring home the gold!
In Peace and Gratitude,.