Wayne Muller, in his book Sabbath, poetically and passionately chronicles the cost to our lives — both individually and as a society — when we fail to rest. He details the violence of busy-ness and the decline of civic engagement, and how our most crucial resources fail to grow in a climate that doesn’t allow for rest.
In an interview with Mary NurrieStearns, Muller explained how our culture doesn’t allow permission to rest:
There is little permission in our culture for Sabbath. In fact, the only permission we have is illness, so cancer becomes our sabbatical. When people get a life-threatening illness like cancer or AIDS, everyone agrees that it’s all right for them to take time off. But to say, “I’m leaving now and I’m not going to work today,” is looked upon as self-indulgent and people feel guilty.
In reality, it’s a commandment in most of the world’s spiritual traditions. If we don’t take this time, we will not do well in the world. It’s hard to live ethically without rest, when we speed along trying to get projects done. It’s easier to talk ourselves into lying about this or that because we know it’ll help get the project done.
The more we live without rest, the easier it is to live out of balance. It’s strange, living in a world where no one feels permission to rest, while we simultaneously claim to ascribe to spiritual traditions that insist that we rest.
I’m making a plea for Sabbath-keeping, reminding people that they already have permission to rest. Sabbath doesn’t need to be justified with the promise of some great spiritual insight. Sabbath is a gift that we’re supposed to drink from.
Muller published his book in 2000, and it couldn’t be more relevant now.
We are being handed a cultural Sabbath.
I have learned this lesson the hard way:
If we don’t take time to rest, something will force us to rest.
Here we are.
All around the world, even those of us not sick with COVID–19 are being forced to isolate and work from home. Businesses and schools are closed. There’s no place to go.
That doesn’t automatically mean we will see an end to “busy.” You can stay busy in a room with no furniture and without internet access. Trust me, I’ve done it.
Every crisis provides an opportunity. Our opportunity right now is to reclaim our right to rest.
We are being handed a cultural Sabbath.
Will we seize the moment?
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