Alongside the lie that we human beings live a life separate from that of the divine life at our core, is the lie that Rest is of little use except as a necessity when we lay our heads on our pillows at night. Hogwash I say! Just like quantum scientists admit a great mystery at the core of the cosmos as they know it, I believe Rest is the mystery of living more fully on planet earth. Why else should we “Remember the Sabbath Day…?” (Shabbat)
Dr. Meeks, who is the Executive Director of the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing in the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, wrote a recent article, “Rest As an Act of Resistance.” In it, she quotes Tricia Hervey, a woman activist and founder of The Nap Ministry whose primary work centers around the concept of Rest as more than relaxation. Dr. Meeks, though chiefly speaks to people on the margins who are oppressed by systems that respect their utility with little respect or compassion for their dignity as human beings who carry the image of GOD within. In a recent article, she stated that “folks who are oppressed believe they have no right to rest… Along with this is the deep sense of having to stay vigilant in order to barely stay a few steps ahead of all of the negativity that the forces of oppression offer.” Neither of my parents, nor their parents, nor anyone we knew ever considered the thing called “retirement.” What was that, anyway?
I believe, though, that REST in its truest form is an act of resistance for anyone who begins to understand themselves as more than what they can express or do at any given moment in time. If we accept that our bodies actually carry the precious cargo of the divine image within, we can accept that our bodies are holy by right of what they carry. And if our bodies are holy, then they have the right to be treated respectfully, with dignity and honor. The external landscape must never dictate the realities of our unseen and internal landscapes. Our flesh suits carry real treasures inside.
We may intend to do more, but those who have been hospitalized for physical or mental exhaustion will tell you that such an intention can result in a dreadful impact on their lives and the lives of those whom they love.
So, when was the last time you stopped to simply enjoy being alive? When did you last take a nap? Don’t wait too long to do so. Everyone deserves to do something good for themselves that does not include dollars of any kind. Be good to yourself. Daydream—take a nap—they are both good for your soul.
Love,
Freda Marie+