Every Thursday I help host and facilitate a women’s Bible study. Recently when I started to launch our weekly Zoom session, I could tell my computer was locking up. I wondered how long it had been since I had actually turned my computer completely off—maybe a month or longer? It literally took ten minutes for my computer to shut down because I had multiple spreadsheets open, word documents in progress, partially written emails, a myriad of applications on the desktop, and ten or more open tabs in my browser.
As these applications were attempting to close in order for the computer to reboot, I realized that my mind and soul felt much like my computer: too many tasks spinning in my head. When was the last time that I completely shut myself down? Due to recent life circumstances, my weekly day of rest had been pushed aside. Also, I noticed that I’m not the only one living on fumes as I’ve heard my young adult nieces and nephews talk about working seven days a week. We are not created to live in this kind of frenzy. How are you living your life?
So I decided to take a day off, something that never comes easy for me as I always want to accomplish just a little bit more at work or at home. I have to force myself to slow down. On that day off, I sat outside and read, watched the birds flit all over the yard, noticed the rich colors of the flowers blooming, took two naps, and went on an hour-long walk.
The day was a great reminder that I am not a human doing. I am a human being created in the image of God, as are you.
We often think of God’s commands and laws as being restrictive, no fun at all. In fact, they are given to us for our own good. What about God’s command to honor the Sabbath? He invites us into a day of rest each week for a time to worship, a time to spend with family or friends, a time to notice the world that He created, a time to breathe. The offer He makes to us is a gift. His law refreshes our souls, brings joy back into our lives, and clears our minds for the work He has called each of us to do.
Anne Lamont wisely observes, “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”