Trying to rest



Napa Valley, California  2005


On Sundays, I often post the word "rest".  Although it is an old-fashioned concept, I think resting on the "Sabbath" could revolutionize my life.  I can usually rest for a couple of hours but not for the whole day.  My brain is constantly coming up with new projects for me to tackle, old projects I need to finish, housework I have neglected.

Marva Dawn says in her book Keeping the Sabbath Wholly that Sabbath ceasing is "to cease not only from work itself, but also from the need to accomplish and be productive, from the worry and tension that accompany our modern criterion of efficiency, from our efforts to be in control of our lives as if we were God..."

I have realized that I derive a lot of self-worth from what I accomplish, and I often push hard to get it done.  I decide what needs to be done, and I do it (and woe to whoever gets in my way).  In other words, I act like God.  That leads to no good thing for anybody in my life.  So, today I am trying to rest.