Rest

I grew up in a faith tradition that has strong prescriptions around a day of rest. Sundown to sundown–it was a 24 hour period of a whole lot of don’ts. At least that’s how it felt as a kid. There were many pieces of the don’ts and their exceptions that confused me. Don’t work on the Sabbath, unless you’re a doctor or a nurse or the pastor giving the sermon or one of the deaconesses putting together a whole potluck or a family hosting a lot of folks for dinner. Those don’t count, you see; they’re outside of the rules. And you can be in nature, but don’t work, but climbing that mountain totally doesn’t count. I think with most things it’s hard to pin down metaphor and philosophy and apply it practically. Do this and don’t do that simplify broad truths, but I think that’s where it’s easy to get into trouble. It’s incredibly easy for humans to get caught up in minutiae without looking at the bigger picture or the why.

Herculean effort isn’t sustainable, not for anyone. And while it’s been oft-repeated, I believe it to be absolutely true–the body keeps the score. If we don’t rest, our bodies find ways of making us do so anyway. Too much stress can lead to illness of both body and mind. Rest isn’t the negative or absence of something and I think it’s often framed that way. To me rest is restoration to fullness. We sleep (hopefully) every night so that we can be awake and our full selves the next day. Psychosis and a whole host of problems happen if we don’t sleep. In like manner, regular intervals of rest help us replenish to be our full, best selves.

For me, though, rest isn’t just time of NOT doing. Rest is the place where I can focus on being. Sometimes this is alone, contemplating in nature or creating art. But the rest I most appreciate and the rest I celebrate today during this gratitude challenge is the rest I find with people who help remind me of myself or give me the space and time to be myself. Safe. Welcoming. Kind. Warm. Space to restore. I have spent time with very dear folks in the last couple of days who help foster that rest. My hope is that I can also be a restful space for those who need it, too.