New Year Reset
Take a break before you get to the breaking point
I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted by the end of the holidays! I am a reasonably extroverted person. However, after the month of December, with all of its events, commitments, and parties, I am ready to cocoon for a while. Unfortunately, all too often, I find that January quickly comes around the corner and hits me like a semi-truck: work, family, kid activities, maintaining the house, committees, and so on and so forth. It’s no surprise that most of us are overworked, overly busy, and overly committed. It begins to add up quickly.
Recently, I was on a Zoom conference with other priests. During our breakout time, our group shared about when we take time off and vacations. One of the guys admitted that the meeting was the first time he had taken any time off for weeks. All the other clergy pounced on him. We quickly reminded him that a clergy conference was not really considered “time off.” Another guy told the group he hadn’t been on a proper vacation since his kids were young. His kids are currently in high school, and one is in college. I am sure some of us might relate to these stories. Almost everyone faces this problem at some point – even priests!
I will not mince my words on this matter. Busyness, over-work, and over-commitment are not just slight problems for us. They are downright sinful. Yes, that’s right. It is sinful. Allow me to explain.
In creation, we were made in God’s image—intended “naturally” as God’s child to reflect our Father. Since our Father worked creatively for six days and rested on the seventh, Adam and all of us are to copy Him. The Sabbath was to be a day with Father. On the seventh day, God and humanity walked together in the garden. When we are going through life working nonstop, running from here to there without breaks or rest, we are saying we can do things better than God can. When we don’t rest, we are saying we no longer want to reflect the image of God and do not wish to spend time with God. It is prideful. It is arrogant. It is sinful.
I am not trying to guilt anyone into rest. I do not think guilt works that way. What I am attempting to point out is that a life without rest is not the life we are intended or were created to live. It is not good for us, our relationship with God, nor our relationships with others to live nonstop.
At that same conference, one of the older priests in the group made a comment that stuck with me. He said, “Guys, our ministry and work are important, but God also intended for us to enjoy life.” He was right. After all, Jesus did say, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11.28). Solomon penned the words well when he wrote, “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to sleep, eating the bread of anxious toil; but the Lord gives to his beloved rest.” (Ps. 127.2). Life is a gift from God meant to be enjoyed—enjoyed with Him and others. This means we need to take breaks in life – sabbaths.
Rest for us is so important to God that He made it a commandment for us to take it (Exodus 20.8-11). Yet, how many of us need to take time to rest? If we are going to really enjoy life the way God intended us to enjoy life, then we need to fight for and prioritize rest. There are three rest periods we need to ensure we build into our calendars. Please note that these are not rules. Law does not save us. These are rhythms that I would encourage all believers to work into their lives.
Rest with God – One half-hour a day, one day a week, and one weekend a year.
Rest with family and friends – Once a day (even if it is just 15 minutes), one solid evening a week, and one week a year.
Rest with yourself – Once a week (even if it is only for a few minutes) and one weekend a year.
This might seem like a lot of rest for some of us. It can be for me. Making sure I schedule this rest time into my calendar is a real challenge. However, we cannot afford not to take a break. If not for our spiritual and physical well-being, then we need to do it for our families, friends, and, most importantly, our relationship with God. Before January hits you like a freight train, schedule your sabbath.
“So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.” (Hebrews 4.9-10)
Fr. Chase