Life comes at you fast. Yes, that is an old television commercial for life insurance, but it is also true. Life moves fast and full. This past week I took the time to sit down and plan my church’s calendar from November to mid-January. There is All-Saints, Veteran’s day, Stewardship Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, the four weeks of Advent, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, New Years and the Baptism of the Lord. (Wow!) Add to that list all the usual work, plus all the other things (like memorial services and long-term planning meetings) and it is more than any one person can handle. But this pastor, and any pastor, has a cadre of people who come alongside and help carry the load. (Thank you all so much!)
In the midst of this madness I asked my Cabinet (ministry board) how they were doing. Is it any surprise they said “tired?” I really want to give them the opportunity to rest. It is an absolute necessity, not just for pastors and church leaders, but for all people. Rest is an important part of our personal and spiritual well-being. That is the need that lies behind the idea of the Sabbath, the day of rest and renewal. Remember, the Sabbath was started after God had created all the heavens and earth (talk about hard work!). If God ‘needed’ a day of rest and time to enjoy his work (which is what the Scripture implies) how much more do we need to ‘stop and smell the roses’. That need was incorporated in no less than the Ten Commandments, “You shall keep the Sabbath holy,” because it is that important. Jesus too understood the need to rest in God’s presence. If there was ever anyone who would be busy doing the will of God, it would be Jesus.
Yet throughout Scripture we hear how Jesus continually ‘snuck away’ to spend time in prayer and contemplation. And Jesus regularly directed his disciples, in the midst of their busy lives and full ministries, to “come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.”
And yet, it is not all snooze and play. It was in the garden of Eden that God gave Adam, Eve and all humanity the massive job of caring for creation.
The prophet Jeremiah told the Israelites “Build houses and settle down; cultivate gardens and eat what they produce. Get married and have children … Promote the welfare of the city where I have sent you.” (Sounds like a lot of work to me.)
And Jesus said “the one who believes in me will do the works that I do; in fact, greater works than these will he do.” (Another very tall order.)
So, if both rest and work are from God, how do we live into this grace? How do we find the balance (as well as strength and courage) to live as we are created to be? Perhaps a starting place is with the intent to ‘make the time’ to ‘keep the Sabbath’. That may seem like work in itself, but for some folks (including me) it is way too easy to run full tilt until you crash.
Perhaps we can set aside the time (even a few minutes a day) to seek God (along with the Spirit’s wisdom and guidance) to know the particular things we are to do, and not do. In fact, being in God’s presence is a good practice because it is a work that brings a deep, abiding rest – like a true Sabbath. And that has been the plan from the first day of creation.
May you all find God’s blessing (and peace and rest).
The Rev. Rosemary Dawson is the designated pastor of Trinitarian Congregational Church. The church hold in-person worship Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. and hosts Franklin County Community meals every fourth Thursday of the month.