Getting some rest

I have been fighting a nagging illness all week. Every time I feel like I am getting better, I feel worse a few hours later. It is honestly pretty annoying.

I realize part of the reason is because I have not gotten enough sleep this week. Between my huge paper for my grad class and snow removal, most nights have been limited and broken sleep.

I have been reminded this week of the importance of rest. It is vital to remain healthy.

Rest can come in many forms.

Sleep is a necessary rest. I always find it interesting when teenagers are on edge because they have been texting half the night. They wonder why their emotions are frayed and they are on edge. Maybe they haven't gotten enough rest.

Quiet is a necessary rest. So many people today seemed to be stressed to the max. I wonder how many of them build quiet time into their day. There is value in turning off the TV, pulling out the earphones, and enjoying stillness and silence.

Vacation is a necessary rest. Workaholics can put in hours upon hours at work and seldom take a break. With cell phones, smart phones, and the other communication tools we have, it is pretty easy to never leave your work alone.

Seek opportunities to slow down and take a break.

I don't think God took a Sabbath because He needed rest. I believe God wanted us to realize the importance of rest.

In today's "on-the-go" society, it can be challenging to build rest into your schedule.

Confession time. I am a work-a-holic who always feels like he needs to be busy. I have a really hard time just sitting still and being. I either want music in the background or a TV on. If I start to get restless, I will find something to do.

Not a day goes by when a teenager doesn't tell me or text me, "I'm bored." We have lost the fine art of rest in our world. We entertain and work ourselves to death. Maybe part of the cause of more cancer and illness is because we don't give our bodies time to rest.

I remember when I was a teenager, the local police department bought extra police cars. Before, the different shifts would share cars. That would mean that a car was being driven all day and night. By getting extra cars, they found the number of hours a car could drive would increase.

If cars are less effective when they don't get rest, shouldn't it be even more true for the human body? The next time you feel overwhelmed or stressed, don't increase your stress level by accelerating your speed. Take a few minutes to be still and enjoy the rest God intended you to have.

shine!
Jason