Embracing Rest: Sabbath as Transformation

“The early morning quiet, a time typically reserved for rest, often eludes me. Unlike most, my Sundays are not days of rest; they are days of work, leading and experiencing worship. I was reflecting on the why of this ‘sabbathing’ thing I practice weekly. A day to not do? Seems suspect to me and my Western mind. Yet, I do it with intention, more so in recent years.

Reflecting on my practice of sabbath, I recall a time when I observed it solely because my religious faith commanded it. In Western monotheism – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam – taking a Sabbath is not just encouraged but imperative. However, I sought a deeper understanding beyond ‘because God said so.’

As a younger man, I thought I had a bottomless source of energy. I felt compelled to accomplish everything on my lists. Indeed, there always seems to be something that needs doing! I used to view myself, and sometimes still do, as indispensable, as if I were holding the world together. I do not want to denigrate myself or lessen my value and place in the Universe. I do want to be clear about a few things related to why I practice sabbath and why it matters.

I am precious. I begin by affirming this truth because it would be simple to imagine that my being able to take a day off is because I am unnecessary and then to somehow accentuate that into some negative judgment on self. My preciousness is not negated by not doing any more than it is affirmed by doing. It is my inherent value. It is everyone’s inherent value – immeasurably precious, even infinitely so!

I am not indispensable. Contrary to the work of an occasionally inflated ego, the sun and moon do not rise because of me; I do not hold the Universe or even my little corner of it together. That is beyond my ability. To relax into that reality and be reminded of it helps me maintain perspective. Don’t get me wrong: I have a unique part to play in this Universal Unfolding and it matters that I bring my creative self to the tangible and intangible place I hold. I simply do not need to stoke my ego with some notion of my being required for the world to function.

The idea of being as important as doing, perhaps even more so, challenges the constant cultural messaging focused on productivity. It’s as if we’re measured more by our ‘doings’ than our ‘being.’ Embracing the practice of just being – present, alive, awake – is a powerful counterpoint to this narrative.

Rest is necessary and healthy. This body in which I take form has its limits; it requires rest to clean itself, to rebuild itself, to reinvigorate itself, to process all the input. A day to sleep a little extra, to take it more slowly, to take a walk just because, to smell the roses (or some other favorite smell). This slowing to rest actually makes the days of work more productive and creative because I have had the opportunity to refresh my faculties.

Sabbath is an important practice for me; by extension, I believe it is a vital practice for everyone. I wonder if each of us might bring a better, more rested, more full-of-life self to each day if we took the time for rest. It is more than a commandment, it is a life-giving practice!

To help incorporate rest into your life, consider these strategies:

• Set a specific day each week for rest, and mark it on your calendar.
• On your rest day, avoid turning it into a ‘home-work’ day with endless tasks.
• Be forgiving if you miss a rest day; simply try again next week.
• If urgent work arises on your Sabbath, take a replacement rest day as soon as possible.”