Earlier in the week, on my day off, the day I consider my “Sabbath”, I was empty and depleted. I had not slept enough the night before. I felt restless and unmotivated to do the usual activities that are fun for me. Every time I thought about reading a book or writing something creative, I felt that I couldn’t do it; I was too exhausted. This made me agitated, frustrated that I was wasting time on my day off, unable to do the things that usually bring me joy. Finally, I decided the best thing to do was lie down and take a nap. I worried that sleeping would be a waste, but I honestly couldn’t scrounge up the energy and initiative to do anything else. So I gave in and slept. After dozing for only 20-30 minutes - the length of one power nap cycle according to sleep science, I started feeling somewhat recovered. I felt motivated to do one of my favorite restorative activities - taking a walk in nature. The short siesta helped just enough that I drove to a nearby park with nature trails and beautiful pollinator gardens. Most of the day was gone; I arrived at the park around 5:00 p.m.
The late afternoon was a muggy 86 degrees, but I didn’t care. My spirits became lightweight upon entering the shadowy, slightly cooler woods. Following a shorter trail, the forest soon opened to green fields where mowed pathways were kept walkable around the perimeter and criss-crossing the meadows. I spotted an Indigo Bunting and moved a dead Luna Moth from the path to a more peaceful resting place. A doe and I startled each other as I disturbed her grazing and she blew her warning signal. I drank in the late afternoon sunshine, cooled off in the shadowed forest, listened to the breeze whispering among the treetops, and laid my hand upon a patch of damp spongy moss. I prayed. Talking to God became natural. My spirit became soothed and restored. Coming full circle, I browsed in the pollinator gardens, taking pictures of sun-glistened spiderwebs and noticing butterflies floating among the coneflowers. Returning to my car, I sat with open windows listening to birdsong, drinking ice cold water, and feeling a sense of calm gratitude
and well-being.
I have learned from experiences like this that it’s very important to know what restores us. We must pay attention to ourselves, noticing what causes agitation versus what instills that sense of calm well-being. For me, it is solitude, usually in a natural setting. If I’m particularly depleted, there’s nothing better than to start with a nap. We can give ourselves permission to lie down and take a nap! The value of productivity is so deeply ingrained that we feel guilty for needing to be still, to nap during daylight hours. We feel, even on our days off, that we must be useful in some way - preparing meals, setting our calendar for the week, doing something meaningful with family. All these things are good, and quality family time is important; however, people need a regular rhythm of nonproductivity built into their pattern of living. Constantly putting out, working, giving, and producing - even good things - will drain and deplete our physical, emotional, and spiritual energy stores. Signs of depletion are boredom, restlessness, exhaustion, depression, listlessness and irritability. When we feel that life is losing its meaning and purpose, we’re probably driving ourselves too hard. How can we be good for anything or anyone burned out and running on empty? We must learn to fill our inner reservoir.
Genesis tells us that our Creator designed us to need a rhythm of rest, a day to stop working and just bask in his presence - a weekly pause, like a selah in the midst of a Psalm.
The selah is a musical notation indicating an interlude to stop, listen, and reflect. If our life is a worship song, a selah enriches and deepens the reverence, creating melodic harmony, and causing our music to truly honor God. Jesus taught that the Sabbath was made for people. It was not a day to be framed in legalism (more work!), but to give freedom and permission to rest.
When we honor our need for restoration by understanding Sabbath and intentionally following regular practices that replenish our spirits, we become healthier, more stable emotionally and mentally, better able to fulfill the purposes for which we are created. We are strengthened to live into our identity as creative, loving, joyful beings who mirror God’s image to the people in our lives.
Meditate
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul…”
~Psalm 23:1-3a
Reflect
Why do you think spending time in God’s creation enables us to delight in his restorative presence? Even science supports the truth that time in nature supports our well-being - just google it!
Practice
Find a natural area in your community where you can take an hour to sit or walk, soaking in the beauty around you. Listen to birdsong. Feel the breeze on your skin. Breathe deeply the incense of flowers, sun-warmed pine needles, or rain-soaked earth. Watch how the sun sheds shafts of light in the midst of forested shadows. Notice the sparkles dancing on the ripples of a pond or stream. Whisper to God the gratitude that wells up in your spirit as the waters rush in to fill your reservoir once again.
by Heather J. Willis, author
Read on my husband Paul's site - Finding Peace When You're Stressed
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