It's Tuesday at 2:00pm! (PST Time: I live and work from Southern California)
All of our past posts have been placed HERE if you want to go back and read one.
OK, I've got a little bit of a series going here... wasn't the plan, but is moving in that direction.
May 12: Why I Walk
May 19: Why I Ride
Today, I want to answer the question, "Why I Rest?"
I remember vividly when Tim Hansel came to my university to speak in the early 80's. I had never heard someone talk about "rest" and "play" and "adventure" all at the same time. I went and purchased an autographed copy of his book, When I Relax I Feel Guilty The book challenged me to think about how I wanted to live my life in areas of work-life balance, and if I really wanted to understand what true rest is all about.
Fast forward about 30 years and I remember another message from Bob Shank where he talks about the value of SABBATH and I was reminded and challenged in that area of my life. The lesson was simply that God didn't suggest that we rest, but he "COMMANDED" that we rest in Exodus 34:21: "Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest..."
I feel like I've always had a good rhythm of work and rest. I love to work, especially in areas of my strengths and calling. I also love to rest. Rest for me is defined as things that "REFUEL ME". For years, my rest has been focused on time with my family, on renewing activities like walks at the beach or recreational travel.
As I dig deeper into what Sabbath means to me and what rest is, I'm realizing the value and importance of just STOPPING.
For years I've made my rest an activity. It's been good, but my rest has been scheduled, planned and very active.
This past weekend, I had some time on the couch. I napped on the couch. I read on the couch. I watched a show on the couch. I journaled on the couch. The couch became my rest. I didn't spend the whole weekend there, but I had significantly more time this weekend to rest.
When I rest...
- I feel my body and soul renewing. I begin to feel alive. I have new energy.
- My body stops moving and eventually my brain stops working so hard. The idea of STOPPING doesn't come easy. True rest for me is when I stop. I can't stop for long, but when I do, I feel it.
- I think and dream deeply. My mind focuses on things I've avoided thinking about and I begin to dream again. When I'm busy, I never get to this state because there's too much on my mind.
- I get thankful again. I'm reminded of the blessings in my life and gratitude returns as worship. I'm thankful for so many things that I take for granted.
- I get excited about the starting line. I anticipate a new day and I begin to get excited again about what I'm doing, what I'm working on and what's in front of me. Again, I feel renewed and this spills into my work life and focus. Every time I experience rest it feels like I've crossed the finish line, then it's time to start again.
Rest looks different for all of us.
I'm teaching an online class called "Learning to Lead Myself" and the lesson this week is on Time Leadership. This rest conversation is a part of how we manage and lead our time.
Rest has to be scheduled.
Rest has to be prioritized.
Rest has to be unique to you. What others consider rest might not be rest for you. Figure it out.
When you rest, you will be a better you.
Again, this wasn't a suggestion from God. He not only understood the value of rest, but He practiced it.
"Work six days and rest the seventh. Stop working even during plowing and harvesting." Exodus 34:21 The Message
"One of the ways that our faith expresses itself is by our ability to be still, to be present, and not to panic or lose perspective. God still does his best work in the most difficult circumstances." Tim Hansel
"It's not so much what happens to us, as what happens in us that counts." Tim Hansel