Rest

Do you have a day of rest scheduled in your week?  I’m not talking about sleep.  That’s a whole different post.  I’m talking about rest.  Downtime.  Reflection and contemplation.  Focus on faith.

I made my to-do list last night.  I’ve been experimenting with the “Ivy Lee” technique for productivity.   (Expect more on that in a future post.)  And my list for today said:

1. Relax

2. Call Parents

That is all.  

Sure, I will do other things.  I observe my faith on this day, and due to the pandemic, I watched an online service.

I will probably take a walk; the weather is beautiful and fall is almost here.  I will find some puttering around to do in the house and the yard.  

I’m writing this post.

But, on this day of rest, there is nothing that I “have” to do, because I have decided that there isn’t.  I have decided to, in my own way, observe the Sabbath.

What does a day of rest have to do with our inner creative?  

When we don’t rest, our creativity is limited, because our minds are cluttered.  Our week doesn’t have a natural ebb and flow, so we feel a little too rushed.  We miss paying attention to the little things that can inspire us, because we’re too busy …  well, being too busy.

The truth is, we need rest in addition to sleep, and if we don’t schedule it, then it’s too easy for us to sacrifice in the name of getting something else done.  We forget that rest is one of the few things that we require to be fully well and healthy.

I want you to think about when you will devote time to your art this week, but before you do that, consider when you will rest.  Find some downtime in your schedule, so that you can give your best to all of the priorities in your life, including your art.

I can hear it now.  “But my art IS relaxing, so that’s a form of rest!”

I know.  On the one hand, creating is relaxing.  It helps us to process everything else in the world, and it’s fun.  We practice our art because we need to, and because we enjoy it.

On the other hand, it’s still a type of work.  Remember the Creation Story.  God rested after creating.  His work was creating, and then he rested.  Think about that.  

I think it’s fair to say that some of our precious weekend time could be well-spent in pursuit of our art.  I just want you to consider that you might need additional rest, or another form of rest.

My mini to-do list was a welcome sight this morning.

I will admit, it’s been very tempting to check my work email, but I have staunchly resisted.  This is my day off, my day of rest, and I’m not working today.  Writing a blog post, sure.  That’s my choice.  Work?  No.

By resting, we become stronger and better-equipped to face the challenges of the upcoming week.  I believe that we also send a message to ourselves that we have value and worth in just being.  This is time for the creative well to naturally refill.

I know there will be objections, because my Sabbath days have changed many times over the years.  

There were times that I was working, parenting, and going back to school, and even with the support of a very hands-on husband, it was hard.  I didn’t necessarily focus on rest, and I certainly didn’t focus on creativity.

Or the kids had sports, and we were driving out of town to tournaments, or running here and there for other extracurricular activities.  My weekends, for many years, were not “my own.”  I get it.  

If you don’t have time for a full day of rest, then you don’t have time.  But if you can find time, then do so.  Can you find two hours?  Can  you find a day during the week?  Make it work in whatever way you can.

Sometimes, there really aren’t enough hours in the day, but it will work out.

I want to share the advice I was given many years ago from a truly wise mom  (also with three kids, who also went back to school to become a teacher).  She reminded me that there are seasons in life.  Your season may not be my season.  That’s OK.  Enjoy your season.

Little things, like planning dinner before 5 pm and eating off paper plates (don’t laugh until you’ve tried it), can give just enough margin that there is time to rest, and maybe just spend a little time with your art.

And what about the spiritual aspect of Sabbath?  

For me, it’s important to adjust my focus and put my mind on my faith.  Prayer, gratitude, reading, and attending church services (or even viewing them online) are all possible components to this day.  

Rest and faith - the original intentions for the Sabbath - are not passé for today’s world.  We have not outgrown the need for them, and in fact, in our modern and fast-paced lives, we might need them more than ever.

Are you willing to nurture your inner creative by ensuring that you have the necessary rest?