The Gifts of Rest

Work is part of life. The key is balance. Part of the balance is rest.

For the Christian and Jew, we see this as a major and key part of faith. God rested on the seventh day of Creation. Why? I assure you, it wasn’t because He was tired. I could be wrong about that, of course, but call it an ‘educated guess.’ He rested because He was finished, but he then told us (in the Law He gave to us through Moses) to take a “Sabbath rest.”

For the believer in Christ, there’s a cool (and healthy) mystery surrounding “entering God’s rest.” Check it out. You’ll find that God did some completion work in you. There’s some cool information to be found that will give you incredible peace and allow you to stop striving and rest in the fact that God really does like you.

I remember when I was in Russia. I like to do things different sometimes. One of those things this time was learning a phrase in Russian that I wanted to share with non-believers or just anyone I met on the street if I was able to have a conversation while there. “Borg Leibet Tiber” (if my memory recalls correctly. I’m absolutely sure I’ve misspelled it here), which means “God likes you.”

I think so many people have heard “Jesus loves you” and/or “God loves you” so many times that they just don’t even hear it. I decided it might be nice to cut through the cliché by changing it a little bit. Some people even have a concept that God does indeed love them, but He kind of has to. It’s a god/person thing that obligates Him. But these people find it foreign that God would actually like them – like a friend – and want to hang out with them. That is the revelation I wanted to bring to people.

Anyway, realizing that you can rest in the work God has done can be incredibly freeing. But, enough spiritual stuff. Come on, Doug! I want to hear about workaholism. Get on with it! Okay, okay. Here is a short list about The Gifts of Rest.

Most workaholics discount or ignore rest, thinking it wasteful and unproductive.
Rest includes getting enough sleep at night, naps and breaks, silent time alone, or just
sitting or lying still. Strolling along the beach or reading an engrossing mystery may be
relaxing, but they are not restful. And neither is lying awake worrying.
Rest is the most important “activity” we do. Here are some of the gifts of rest, if
we accept them:
1. Physical and mental RENEWAL. No matter how pleasurable the activity, you
will enjoy it much more if you are rested. If you are tired, you will have to draw
on adrenaline for energy. Even if offered the best, say no if you need rest. Rest is
the best reward you can give yourself.
2. Experiencing our BEING. Being alone with ourselves without the distraction of
props or activities. Appreciating the pleasure of solitude. Learning the art of selfenjoyment.
3. SLOWING our pace. Regaining a healthy breathing rhythm.
4. INTEGRATING the interconnections and impacts of our actions and those of
others.
5. Quietness to listen for GUIDANCE from our Higher Power. Reminding ourselves
of our spirituality and to get out of the way of God’s plan for us. Noticing when
we have shifted from flow to effort, from God’s will to self-will, from letting go
to trying to control.
6. Gaining PERSPECTIVE by a temporary withdrawal. Unwinding from being
overly focused. Seeing where we lost our vision. Noting what we do that is
unnecessary. Reminding ourselves to be selective. Being silent to reflect on the
deeper meaning of events, speech.
7. Putting space into our day to SAVOR each event. Digesting impressions.
Freshening our perceptions. Unwinding from being overly focused.
8. Catching ourselves before we RELAPSE into ego and self-will. Keeping
awareness of our emotions and body signals, including energy level. Changing
our thoughts to healthier ones. Regaining our patience, flexibility, humor, wisdom
and creativity.
9. When ill, allowing our body to HEAL itself.
10. Cooperating with the universal RHYTHM of ebb and flow, winter and summer.
Treating time as a friend.

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