Today I begin a two-week vacation. I am grateful to all of you for the gift of time away to rest and recharge.
In our society, rest is all too often considered a luxury, but in our spiritual tradition, rest is a necessity. Many of us will correctly point to the seventh day of Creation as the inspiration for rest as a spiritual exercise, but I have a supplemental understanding that begins with the very first day of Creation.
In the Jewish tradition, the day begins at Sundown. Genesis 1:5 offers an explanation: “And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.” But a deeper look reveals a complete reversal…
We think about Sabbath as the conclusion of Creation. That after six days of creating, God then rested on the seventh day. In my mind, that creates an expectation that rest is something that is earned.
But we don’t earn rest…we were created for it.
If the day begins at sunset, then we reorient our day completely. Rest becomes the primary action, rather than its conclusion. We “rest up” so that we have the energy and attention to give to our work, rather than work until rest is merited.
Rest is an essential part of our creation, and I give thanks for you sharing that rest with me, so that we can continue the work rested, restored, and re-energized!
