Resting

This semester, it's been my goal to rest. Not just as often as possible, though that is also true, but I wanted to set aside a day to rest. A day where nothing needed to get done, where I was able to spend time with God and recharge. This, as a college student, is easier said than done.

This week, I accomplished my goal for the first time since school started. Still, it's hard to remember to rest. I found myself doing laundry and wondering if this "counted." Usually, laundry relaxes me, but not today. Today, it was hard to get it done and it didn't feel restful. Maybe laundry shouldn't count.

Though I finished my homework on Saturday, I didn't find myself being super spiritual. I've been sick this week, and my body is trying desperately to recover from what may (or may not) have been the swine flu. I slept in this morning until noon, missing church. It was wonderful.

My interest in having a sabbath was piqued by the book Mudhouse Sabbath by Lauren Winner. She comes from a Jewish background and this book is all about how parts of Judaism can enrich our lives as Christians. One of the ways that can happen, is through Sabbath. Remembering to rest.

I know I forget.

In my daily times with God, I try to practice rest. To come before Him and forget about what I have to do and where I have to be after I'm done. That's why I set my phone alarm, so that time can cease to exist altogether. But this is hard. I'm still not very good at it.

When I'm sick, I'm very good at finding time to rest. I squeeze in naps at every opportunity and clear my schedule of things that aren't important or necessary. But, when I'm well, I forget that I need rest, maybe just as much as when I'm sick.

Spiritual rest is just as important (if not more important) than physical rest. That's why I'm trying to rest more, and to set aside a day to do it. I want this discipline in my life, because I believe that it will be better for me.

As I find feelings of normalcy returning, I am reminded of the breakneck pace I tend to have. At the beginning of the semester, I told myself that I wanted to relax more and not be stressed, to take time to have quality of life. Sometimes I forget how much better that is.

I'm still a work in progress, but right now, I'm going to go to bed. I need my rest...