WEEK 197
God, what is your guidance for me today? How may I live into my best destiny?
Today, rest…
relax…
and love the ones you love…
Those closest to you,
whether family, friends
or co-workers.
Spend time with them
in the manner that serves you best,
considering who, where, when, time and distance.
Do something today
that is fun,
and that is nourishing and fulfilling.
Rest… relax;
even if you are working
or carrying out necessary duties.
Let spirit move you
into the day moment by moment
and through the day hour by hour.
Enjoy this time of resting…
of rejuvenation…
and sink into Divine care.
.
Evening Reflection
I suppose it sounds a little strange to think of resting and relaxing as a way to achieve one’s best destiny. There is this American ethic of work which is not so subtly inculcated into us. It is said that Americans live to work and Europeans work to live.
I remember being 15 years old when my grandmother got tired of me running around like a chicken with my head cut off, as she would say. She told me to go and sit next to a tree in the yard. And then she told me to ask of the tree how it was able to stand still for so long!
She helped me begin to understand the role of stillness, of rest, in the living of life.
It is easy to get into the habit of work, work, work. And the technology we have allows us to work faster and multitask more easily, and so we can squeeze even more productivity into a day’s work than in earlier generations. As I lived into this overwork ethic, I developed the habit of staying up very late and continuing to work when all my family were asleep.
But rest is just as important as work. The best rest is a good sleep. Resting and relaxing while awake can include walks, conversations, playing games, or a social outing. Anything that is not work, and that brings pleasure, is relaxing, and that does not bring about stress.
I committed to this today and let go of the work that will be waiting, itself resting until I get back to it. Once rest and relaxation are committed to, the psyche and the soul are free to rejuvenate by tapping into the beauty of life itself… be it loved ones, food, friends, nature, etc.
And if we are fortunate, we may bring some of this beauty and joy to our work when we get back to it, after resting… and relaxing… and renewing… and rejuvenating.
Aaahh.
