Time For Rest

‘Trouble is, Doctor, he doesn’t believe he has a body. Utterly careless of it. You see, he thinks he’s a disembodied spirit.’

That’s a quote from one of my favourite films, Amazing Grace, spoken by Pitt the Younger (Benedict Cumberbatch) about his friend William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd). It is said in jest, but I have realised that even I have a tendency to think the same way. To think that I’m a disembodied spirit who doesn’t need rest.

I think some people find it naturally easier to rest (because of their temperament or daily life, schedule etc.) and they perhaps don’t need to practise resting quite so deliberately. I, however, have discovered that I am not such a person. I do need to deliberately make myself rest because I am in fact not a disembodied spirit. The thing is, I really like being productive and achieving things. And that’s not a bad thing, as long as it’s kept in balance. At the moment I am having to re-train my brain to the truth that, actually, prioritising rest and things which are just fun, is not unproductive. On the contrary. Those things are producing a more healthy me and they are also producing more healthy relationships with the people around me.

I really like what Bethany Hamilton said recently in one of her blog posts:

‘We are no good to ourselves or our loved ones if we are run ragged on a daily basis. Prioritizing time for rest is crucial!’

Part of the battle for me has been that I felt accomplished, validated and worthy because I felt so tired. It felt good to be working the hardest and longest. It felt good to be constantly busy. But that’s not a healthy source of validation, nor is it sustainable. I want to get all of my validation and sense of worth from Jesus, not from something as fragile and comparatively meaningless as my work and general busyness. Besides, making time for rest and ‘just’ hanging out with family can help me keep the main thing the main thing. Life isn’t all about our work. It’s not about busyness and constant doing. I don’t want to miss the beautiful moments in life because I’m so busy that I don’t have time to wonder at the colours of the sky, look my family in the eye when I’m talking to them or spend time on the things which actually make me come alive.

‘It takes courage to say yes to rest and play, in a culture where exhaustion is seen as a status symbol.’
– Brené Brown

I love how Psalm 23:2 says, ‘He makes me lie down in (fresh, tender) green pastures.’ Sometimes the sheep think they don’t need to rest! But fortunately the Shepherd knows best and He takes care of us wonderfully, if we let Him.