Resting does not mean doing nothing

I've just returned home from a great week in Tofino, BC that was stuffed full of beach walks, paddle boarding, and board games. Every day we got outside for a significant amount of time, ate mostly plant-based and healthy meals, and enjoyed the gift of laughter.

It was the right time for our vacation, as both Jamie and I have been overly busy this past COVID season and felt perhaps a bit more compressed than usual. Yet even though we were active every day on vacation (probably more active than we are during our seasons of work at home), it was still a restful week.

I find it very interesting how we can feel tired, and rather than resting by doing nothing, we do something else, and still come away feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. This truth reminds me that the feeling of rest depends not only on how much we are doing, but also what we are doing.

Put me behind a computer or in Zoom meetings for eight hours, and I am going to end the day feeling drained. Put me outside on a sweaty hike for eight hours, and I am going to end the day physically tired, but feeling incredibly alive.

We are designed to be well. The evil in the world (both the evil we suffer and the evil we perpetrate) robs us of wellness. Jesus came to restore our wellness with God, each other, our true selves, and creation. We join this mission of Jesus in part by taking care of ourselves and giving wellness every opportunity to take root in our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual selves. Jesus reminds us:

The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give [you] a rich and satisfying life.

~ Jesus, in John 10:10

PAUSE and REFLECT: Are you well? Are you enjoying life with God, with your family and friends, with yourself? I'm not talking about being happy (which is an ethereal, fleeting concept). I'm talking about being well. Don't ask, "Am I happy?" Instead ask, "Am I well?"

If your answer is "No," then ask the Holy Spirit why. For real, actually pause, reflect, and ask Him why you are not well. Then listen. Actually listen.

Of course, the next logical question is how can I be / feel better? The answer might be to do less overall, or it may be to do different things. Feeling wiped? Instead of watching two hours of TV (which is escapism, not life-giving), perhaps we can walk for an hour (or some kind of life-giving activity) and watch TV for an hour.

I fully realize that some work highly demanding jobs (demanding in both time and energy) that leave little room for wellness. That is a problem in itself. I also realize that some face mental health issues (or relational issues, or financial issues, etc) that rob us of a rich and satisfying life. In these situations movement to wellness is still possible, though we need to be realistic with where we are at and what we truly need.

The bottom line is movement toward feeling more rested and being more fully alive is a real possibility for all of us. Yet the path will differ for each of us. Some of us need to do less. Some of us need to do different things than we're currently doing. Some of us need to do both.

Where are you at? Where are you going? More importantly, where do you want to be going? Most importantly, where does God want you to be going? What is one small step you can take this week to invite more rest and wellness into your life?

—

Photo of Tofino, BC by Nick Osborne