Go, go, go…seems to be a moniker for our society and even when people “slow down” we do so by keeping the data stream flowing. Constantly, plugged in so that we don’t miss anything. They call babies who are hard to get to take naps, “FOMO” babies – Fear Of Missing Out. Maybe we never outgrew that. To be honest, I am one of them. Plugged into the digital world looking for the latest sports score, tweet or whatever.
But, rest is important. I know this from a physiological and mental standpoint. And still I’ll stay up later than I should on a weeknight, keep that phone handy, etc.
“You are to labor six days, but you must rest on the seventh day; you must even rest during plowing and harvesting times.”
Exodus 34:21 HCSB
The sabbath isn’t for God, it’s a day of rest for us. Many people are chronically stressed due to lack of sleep, taking no breaks or breaks that aren’t really breaks at all. So I want to focus on that rest this year as well. I am taking a break from physical training one day a week, not writing this blog on Sundays and as I write this I am pondering about trying to unplug on Sundays as well. Could I do that? I don’t know…maybe just start for a couple of hours. Hmmm. I’ll have to get back to that one.
I do know that God’s Rest is more than just sleeping in on the weekends or a stress free hour or two away from the news or internet, or even taking a day off from exercise. It is all-encompassing Rest. Rest for your bones, your mind, all the way to your soul. I want that kind of Rest.
“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28
I guess I am saying that in addition to working on my spiritual, mental and physical fitness I need to work on my resting as well.
