Rest

Relaxation as a teen and young adult included a book, bottle of water, and my bum in a beach chair. I savored hours in the sunshine, reading or snoozing next to the waves. My favorite sounds included the squawks of seagulls and waves lapping the shore. The smell of sunscreen still makes me grin. My heart sighs with pleasure at the opportunity for sand and sunshine, but since moving to western Kansas my beach hours are limited.

Though time spent with my toes in the sand is less, I am finding new ways to relax and gain refreshing moments. This year, my main theme or focus is along this vein. This is the year to focus on resting. Resting has a different flavor then just plain relaxation, however, and encompasses more than a break at the beach.

I want to learn how to find rest in three main areas of my life: my mind, physical body, and spiritual life. I have spent January and February pondering what it means to live a restful lifestyle. My goal isn’t that life this year is easy or hassle-free, but lived in a restorative fashion. After 2020, I want to be able to say, “There were many moments of rest and even the hurried ones felt peaceful.” It feels like a weighty goal (difficult too), but I sense this is the correct focus for this year.

What does the word “rest” mean to you? What do you picture when you thinking of resting? My idea of rest is to do something restorative- where I am refreshed.

I chose to focus on two aims in each of the areas of mental, physical, and spiritual rest. I didn’t intentionally select two aims in which to concentrate, but as this idea is taking root, they are coming into focus. In upcoming posts we will peer closer at these three areas and the two aims in each, but here is an overview of my ideas.

The first area: mental rest. Dwelling on past or future events is a habitual pattern and I frequently miss the moments of joy I am in currently. Thus, I am learning and endeavoring to practice mindfulness. Though I love to remember the past and plan for the future, the present time is often passing my attention, and time seems to be sailing by as I daydream. How often do I skip noticing a moment to laugh with my family or cuddle in the rocking chair because the familiar glazes my eyes? I slip into a replay of another time or jump ahead in my thoughts to the next day’s plans. I long to experience the joy of the present and the reward of living fully in the minute I am in currently. As I practice mindfulness and learn useful ways to make it a reality, I will share the tips I acquire on this journey. I will also share my main motivation for mindfulness.

The other aspect of mental rest I want to practice is good habit formation. At first glance, mindfulness and habits seem opposite and unlikely teammates. Yet, on further inspection they are starting to look like sisters who like to run together. When performing a habit, you do it because it routine, formilar, and perhaps mindless. As, I study habit further, I see there is intentiality in the habits that allow for less decisions made from spur of the moment actions (or reacting to impulse). Habits help create the space for mindfulness. In both habit formation and mindfulness, mental rest comes in the selecting of what I dwell on in my thoughts.

Turning to the area of physical rest, I decided to concentrate on energy and personality. What do these areas have to do with physical rest? If my body is stronger, and I have more energy, then I gain the motivation to work. Isn’t it easier to rest after an accomplishment? Gretchen Rubin* says, “Nothing is more exhausting then the task that is never started.” When you have the energy to do what needs to be done- the battle of starting is ready to be conquered.

Personality tests always leave me in a quandary. It is common for me to be equally “this and that” in my personality results. So I am not sure exactly how to label myself. I do know, as I learn more about my personality, strengths, and desires, I gain insight into how I am refreshed and recharged. 

These three areas of mental, physical, and spiritual rest are intertwined, but I believe spiritual rest holds the largest reward. David the Psalm writer says, “He restores my soul.” David points to God as the giver of the rest he longed for and desperately needed. Jesus says something very similar when he is speaking to his followers. Jesus says, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”**

How do we come to Jesus and find rest? One answer surprised me. You can restore your soul through spiritual disciplines. I am learning spiritual disciplines can keep pointing your heart to the work of God in your life. The two disciplines I am starting with are prayer journaling (one of the ways I hear God clearly!) and adoration. We will unpack these two in later blog posts.

My desire as I journey towards a lifestyle of rest, we may learn together what restores our minds, bodies, and spirits. Wouldn’t it be a shock to a friend if next time you were asked, “How are you?” you answered with “I am rested.”

* You will hear me mention Gretchen Rubin again. She is a happiness expert and I enjoy following her on Instagram @gretchenrubin.

**Matthew 11:28-30