WHEN WE REALISE THAT WE AREN’T GETTING ENOUGH REST
We need to be resting properly on Sundays to understand how rest can help us to be focussed and healed. Sometimes we need more than just getting some rest at the weekends. Recently I retired from full time work and this made me realise how I had been over-working. Really we can achieve so much more when we give ourselves the opportunity to rest. Now many more opportunities to rest appear throughout my day when I can just sit still and do nothing. In these moments sometimes:
- sleep just overcomes me and I get a proper rest.
- My mind is really peaceful & still in God’s presence
- I can reflect on some of the challenges or even achievements in my life
- Processing some of the trauma from the past is possible
To get a proper rest I find we need to sit still doing nothing for atleast 20 minutes. So I usually time myself and make myself rest for atleast this amount of time. This is because we need some time to let our mind settle in order to enjoy a proper stillness.
So, do you need more rest? If so we should be looking at our Sabbath Practice or even be considering a sabbatical especially if we are a priest or pastor. We need to recognise that having a sabbatical or any holiday is a gift and can be life-changing. A complete break can literally save your soul especially if you can:
- go deeper into rest with God.
- Let go of your leader mentality
- Really prepare and reflect on your life
- Experience some space and peace
- Be happy and pleased
If you are blessed to have a sabbatical (or even just a holiday) it will take a while for your stress hormones to calm down and for you to start to benefit from this rest. So this extended rest might be for 3-6 months. It needs to be planned for and be careful to prepare for re-entering. If you rest on the Sabbath then you will have some idea of what your Sabbatical will be like. On my sabbath I aim to rest by:
- Doing as little cleaning or cooking as possible
- Go to Church or Mass
- Do some Centering Prayer
- Read my bible
- Driving as little as possible
- Get out into nature and take some exercise
What do you do on your Sabbath (this might be a Sunday or a Saturday or any day that you have off)? If you could have a sabbatical what would you like to do or achieve? where would you like to go? Where would be your favourite environment? For me this would be mountains or seaside. Have you got a project you would like to undertake? I would like to write a book.
We have to rest if we want to keep producing good works, praying and performing in God’s kingdom and righteousness. A farmer knows the importance of letting his fields have time off and be set aside if his crops are to be successful. As ministers, disciples and people of God we need to take a leaf out of God’s book and rest like God does.
For further information on Sabbaths & Sabbaticals see:
Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership with Ruth Haley Barton
Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest
MOTHERS MESSAGES AGAPE CHURCH 