Don’t forget to rest
Posted on May 30, 2018 by Heather Lewis
I have always thrived on a busy schedule. My mom loves to talk about my favorite day of the week when I was in 6th grade: she’d meet me with my violin case after school to take the streetcar by myself to my lesson in downtown Stuttgart, Germany. I’d come walking up the hill later, and she’d exchange my violin with my cleats and glove to go to softball practice. Later we’d jump in the car, and I’d munch on a sandwich for dinner and finish my music theory assignment as she drove me to my piano lesson. It was my favorite day every week!
I was 30 years old before I realized that resting was important. But there were so many things I wanted to do! I found that I could continue my non-stop schedule, but when my body needed a break I’d get sick and rest was forced upon me (usually right after Christmas and Easter). A few years later my first child taught me that resting and playing with her was not only exactly what I wanted to do as much as possible, but also absolutely necessary for both of us.
Our society struggles with the concept that we are to rest on the Sabbath and keep it holy. To some that means sleeping in and reading the paper on Sunday. Others spend their entire weekend cheering on their young athletes in a tournament. It’s an occupational hazard of a pastor and worship director that the bulk of their work happens on the holy Sabbath. So how and when are we to rest?!
Remember that God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments in the desert after He had released them from slavery. “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy” is to remind us that nobody should be forced to work every day. We need rest to be able to better serve the other days of the week.
Jesus taught us as he healed on the Sabbath that our rest and time to be holy is intended to give life to ourselves and others. I encourage you to find your Sabbath: take time to rest and do something that lifts you up. You may find as you feel rested, you also bring life to others.
Heather Lewis
Director of Music and Worship