David Bahn – Reflections

Matthew 11:28-30

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Those who have viewed my blog posts over the years know that most often – especially of late – the photos do not specifically go with the reflection’s subject matter in any direct or discernable manner. I look for something at least marginally interesting or photographically strong and simply put the photo in the post. It is simply a way in which I am able to express myself photographically as well as expressing my understanding of a particular part of the Bible.

So as I chose the text and photo for today’s post, I wanted to be certain that it meant something to me. I wanted to display a photograph that I feel is strong as well as share a Bible text that is meaningful to me.

This is the verse that my pastor chose for me when I was confirmed at the age of 20 years at the University Lutheran Chapel of Hope at SEMO University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Seven years later Pastor Robert Lange (the same pastor who confirmed me) preached on this text at my ordination service – also at the Chapel of Hope. What a great text! I have a needlepoint version of it on my wall – a gift from a member of a church I previously served.

The most important part of this passage for me is the invitation that Jesus offers: to take his yoke upon me and to learn from him, together with the promise and reminder that he is gentle and humble in heart, and the place of rest for our souls. That means that I am most at peace when I am following and learning from Jesus. That means he is not pushing me, nor is he harsh or demanding of me. It also means that he is seeking to engage me in service to him, but that is a sweet and delightful service in the cause and freedom of the gospel. I do not serve to pull a large load of demands, but in the joy and freedom of God’s love and mercy to me and all people. Whenever the burden gets heavy, Jesus invites me back to him, to his easy yoke and light burden. For in his mercy and love, God invites me to lay my burdens on Jesus. Would that I would remember that.

The photo is actually related to this thought: The spokes are to the wheel of a hay rake. Although the rake does not carry a heavy burden, it does provide a means by which hay can more easily be gathered and therefore provided to animals that would have need of it. The gritty texture of the weathered metal show its long-time use, and the realty of its aging. The spokes radiating from the hub move up and out to allow for a larger circumference of the wheel. The treatment as a B&W image give it a gritty and more – aged look. The light coming from the upper left of the image casts a shadow in the inner part of the two pieces of the hub, making one wish to look further into that part of the image. Some things, however, remain a mystery.

I hope this isn’t self-serving, but at the same time, truth be told it is self-serving. I write this blog for my sake as much as for anyone who might read it. If you are edified by it, I encourage you to do the same: start a blog. I don’t have thousands of followers, nor even hundreds. But I do have the discipline of reflecting on God’s word daily for my own personal edification. If somehow that radiates out to others, that is a blessing for which I give thanks to God.