I just participated in the funeral of a long time church member this week. I invited the previous pastor of the church I serve to come and assist in the funeral. They were good friends and shared a long in his tenure here. In hearing the former pastor's words, sharing conversation with he and his wife at the luncheon, I heard Jesus words about taking on his yoke and the burden. I have to be honest I have really been over using the comment, "Seriously?" But I heard those words after that day of the funeral and thought Seriously, Jesus?
The former pastor shared the fact that the man we were speaking of was one who understood the idea dn actions and involvement needed in being a disciple. He built this "grill." I have it in quotes because to see it you would say that is more than just a grill. It is a cooking machine. Several propane tanks, large surface area and the ability to attach it to a tow hitch and take it anywhere, was really a work of art. John, the deceased, used that grill not just for church functions but along side the church. He often grilled for the community attracting people with some great eats.
The church sadly while, the actual facility is in immaculate shape, the membership has grown older, people have moved away and there are no children. So goes the saga of a city church as more people live for short periods of time before moving on. As I spoke with the former pastor at lunch, he shared that he was enjoying his retirement. But as we talk about the church in specific and the general church health, it was clear his retiring came for him after being tired of trying in my opinion. He and his wife shared his passion for what Jesus calls us to do and be. He shared how he would often speak the truth to power in conference meetings but only to go unheard. As we talked and I shared my story, letting the lines replay through the rest of the day, I began asking myself if this was to be my fate as well? Would my "banging my head against the wall" attempting to turn churches around simply end up in my wanting to ask to serve a church where I could "relax" and bide my time until retirement? Would the infrastructure of the United Methodist Church, burden me with more statistics, requirements, hammering me about apportionments, and such that it would lead to the beating down of my spirit for ministry? Has it already done that? To me? To others?
In several of my appointments, I have gotten so far with people being excited about what is happening to only have to move because they couldn't afford full time ministry, or the people who want their "club" back complaining to others about me. I do not envy the district superintendent's job. To have to visit so many churches, and attempt to get a handle on where they are based on your pastor's assessment, or those of the church cannot and is not an easy job. After yesterday I wondered if like myself, they too have been beaten down to a point where it is easier to allow the status quo to reign than to challenge churches so that apportionments are paid and visionary pastors are moved on. Or where they visionaries at one time but through the infrastructure, lost that because the institution needed propped up? Are we all like the picture to the left feeling off our feet and going nowhere?
In speaking to the people in the Gospel of Matthew, he said, ²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”(NIV) 
But read it again in The Message: ^28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Have we taken what Jesus has given us in this yoke & burden and put all kinds of layers on it that it is no longer what He intended? I have seen it on a sign: "Love Me. Love Others. It isn't rocket science. -God." I believe in the United Methodist Church because it ties together in faith the concepts of social & personal holiness. But for those of us as clergy or lay leadership in our local churches, I think are losing this. When we become tired of fighting for the least and the lost, when we would rather keep our mouths shut so we don't move to another church, we have given in to the loss of the dream of the kingdom that has been given to us to share. 
I will be honest, I do not know where I will land. That is for God to decide. Wherever I land I pray that it will be a place that is not afraid to be who God called them to be. Jesus was always upsetting the applecart of the comfortable people in the religious world he lived in. Should we not be doing that as well, job security or not? The other part of the this scripture is about rest. Clergy as well as lay people need rest to continue living a life of the gospel. Always take time and don't feel guilty. Jesus spent time away in communion with God. We should be doing no less and in these days we need it more often.
May God grant us all who are working for His kingdom rest and a reminder that the yoke is easy and the burden light in spite of all the infrastructure. I may be struggling but I would not trade a day in Christ's service. May the moments of the inbreaking of the kingdom make our hearts sing and move us forward in service through grace. Easy Yoke? Light Burden? Seriously? YES!