I am a busy person. There… I’ve said it in print! I fully admit I do too much. I come to you as a partially recovered workaholic. I’m also well aware I don’t have a monopoly on “busy-ness.” Most people I know are stretched way too thin. Between church work, private teaching, Handbell Musicians of America, music commissions, and conducting, my schedule is packed. That’s not a bad thing for a church musician who loves to work with and around other church musicians. But it can take its toll over the long haul.
When my children were young, vacations were spent going at breakneck speed from one activity to the next (think Disney World in a day, including a four-hour round-trip drive). Vacations were neither relaxing nor restful. Now that I have a few years behind me, my priorities have changed. I vacation now with time factored in to just be without constant activity.
My work life has changed as well. I no longer work at the frenetic pace I kept as a 25-year-old. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t sit around playing solitaire! I’m very productive in the work I do. But I’ve gained wisdom around pacing, sharing workloads, and the importance of quietness, mindfulness, and listening. I have discovered I am more focused and effective in my spiritual calling and daily life by taking time to rest. Rest is neither laziness nor weakness. Remember, God rested on the seventh day of creation. Rest is a spiritual practice. It reduces burnout, fosters self-compassion, and aligns us with God’s rhythm for our lives.
Rest is essential for our personal and spiritual well-being, yet it’s often underrated and even berated in our society. I find keeping a smartphone with me is a major culprit here. It allows me to be productive in ways that are often less healthy than helpful. Carving out time to be still and quiet is the most restorative for me. This gives me time to talk to God. When my world is quiet, I’m better able to listen to what God is saying to me.
Last week, my mother-in-law mentioned she needed some milk, so I took her grocery shopping. Two hours later, after picking up and examining most of the items in the store to make sure there was nothing with expired dates, she declared she was done. During this time, I completed my own grocery shopping, did the self-checkout, and loaded my car in the first 17 minutes. I found myself fidgeting for the next hour and a half, eventually completing the rest of my shopping and emails on my smartphone. It was all I could do to sit still.
My mother-in-law just moves at a different speed. Jesus moved at a different speed as well. There were times Jesus needed to step away from all of the good he was doing to commune with God. Jesus modeled the restorative practice of prayer and communion for us. We, too, need time away from ministry to commune with God. Seeking to follow Christ’s example, we can model a Christian walk that declares our trust in God’s provision for our lives. Following Christ’s restful example, we reduce anxiety and worry and cultivate a deeper faith. God restores our soul, mind, and body through rest, enabling greater connection and service.
The LORD is my shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul…
—Psalm 23:1-3a
