Resting Well

One of God’s greatest gifts is the gift of rest.  That gift also is the least received by human beings.  Ask most folks in 2013 to explain what “Sabbath” or “sabbatical” is, and I doubt that they could supply an easy explanation.

They’re probably too tired to think.

Recently, on one of the news networks, a reporter spoke about a survey on sleep patterns in American life.  Generally, the human body requires seven to eight hours of sleep each night to restore energy and promote wellness.  The survey found that the typical American, especially under age thirty-five, sleeps for six hours or less.  Social media and 24/7 television programming can make it hard for a person to use the “off” switch.

It’s hard to get the rest we need.

So, too, the “Sabbath day” is no longer observed.  When I was a kid, stores weren’t open on Sundays.  To find a place to eat, you had to go to a nearby suburb where many faithful Jews lived and worked.  (Dagnabbit, those places weren’t open on Saturdays.)  And it didn’t matter which day of the week, not a drop of alcohol could be found.  The town was drier than Death Valley.  Even here in the South, it’s rare to find a place of business that’s closed on Sunday.  Lots of families have to get children to athletic practice or competitions.  Me?  Sundays were a day to play at the beach (summer), build snow forts (winter), or torment siblings (any time).

Now all of us are law-breakers.  The Fifth Commandment is ignored.  So the Collect for Saturdays in the Book of Common Prayer has even greater prophetic power:  “Almighty God, who, after the creation of the world sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures:  Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, Grant that we may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven.”  God has given us a gift of rest.

That’s true in the whole of life.  God gave the people a month of rest every seven years, and a year of rest every forty-none years.  I finally took that direction for my ministry and have been on sabbatical.  Prayer, reflection, study and writing on prayer have been present in this sabbatical gift.  Renewal and rest in God’s Spirit have been abundant.  I am rested.  God’s gracious command for Sabbath rest makes perfect sense to me.

Rest well.  God said so.