You do not need me to tell you that we live in a world and culture that seems to demand more from us. More of our time, more commitment and increased responsibility to somehow, in some way produce more.
Taking time for rest, for Sabbath is a good idea and that it is rooted in Scripture. Yet, practicing Sabbath can be challenging. There are so many competing priorities for our time and energy that the idea of rest, seems illusive and a pipe dream at times. But we need rest, and we need Sabbath. After all, it is one of the Ten Commandments.
The challenge as I see it is if we make rest a priority, we run the risk of being seen as 'lazy' or that our work or project will somehow fall apart without our attention and devotion. Despite the challenge to find the right balance between rest and work, there is hope.
I find it interesting and affirming that there are some business models and church contexts that promote, or at least attempt to promote, a healthy balance between family life and work life. While this looks great on paper, however, in practice it is not always possible as there are always circumstances and competing priorities that demand our time and commitment.
As a newly ordained Curate in a large church, a colleague of mine was meeting the Leadership Team for the first time. He was told that his day off was every Friday. As the conversation progressed his start date was going to be the first of the following month, a Friday. To which he responded, “Sounds good, that means I will see you Sunday?”
The Rector retorted, “No, I will see you Friday.”
Changing our norm and culture around rest and Sabbath is a challenge as this example illustrates, but it is worth the effort.
We are a work in progress. For that we should give thanks for as long as we are progressing, we always have opportunity to choose and re-choose to align ourselves with the God who commands us to rest.
