Can Resting Be Spiritual?

It seems the same reoccurring theme has been appearing in my life over the past few months.  Sadly, I have not fully comprehended this message until recent weeks. 

It all started on a Tuesday in late September when I was working at the front desk.  A frail, blonde haired lady in her late 70's shuffled up and began talking to me.  She was wearing a huge hat with some sort of animal print scarf tied around it, high heels, a wig, and lots of lip liner.  After checking her in, I asked where she was going to eat tonight to which she replied, "Oh honey, I'm Jewish.  I'm not going to eat, I'm going to pray."  Of course...It was Yom Kippur!  She was stopping the daily routine of her life to spend time resting in God.  I was mortified as I shoved the last piece of candy bar into my mouth!

The next day I decided to catch up on some reading for the class Charlie and I attend on Sunday mornings.  We are currently in a study on Pilgrim Heart by Darryl Tippens.  It is an amazing book on spiritual disciplines.  Well...since unfortunately I was a few weeks behind on my reading I was just getting to the chapters on rest.  It's ironic that the 13 other spiritual disciplines mentioned in the book each require one chapter, but resting takes up two.  Tippens says, "The reluctance to retreat arises in part from the often unspoken suspicion that such an activity is selfish or, even worse, an irresponsible abandonment of one's duty to he world."  He discusses that participating in a time of rest whether it's an hour, an afternoon, a day, or week,  serves as a reminder that the world really can get along without me.  Tippens also quotes Thomas Merton who recommends "going into the desert not to escape other men but in order to find them in God." Whew...dwell on that! :)

Last week at Community Bible Study (CBS) we read in the second chapter of Mark about Jesus getting up early and going off to pray.  We had a fantastic group discussion about how Jesus was able to extend Himself outwardly with compassion to others because he took time to be filled inwardly with the love, power, and will of the Father.

Today at CBS we read Mark 3:14 about the calling of the disciples and how one of their primary responsibilities was just to 'be with Him.' Being with Him was how they learned and were empowered.  I am guilty of focusing WAY TOO MUCH on the doing aspect of Christianity and not the being with Jesus part.  And to be honest, I'm worried I do no fully enjoy those quiet moments alone with God because I'm constantly thinking about what I should/could be doing.

This resting seed was first planted in my mind all the way back in June when I had jaw surgery and was physically resting for a solid month.  Yet for some reason it took me until now to grasp the meaning and importance of spiritual rest.  Finally, after putting together all of these recent experiences I was overcome with a huge sense of peace.  It's refreshing to know that I don't HAVE to be on the go all of the time.  Since I am not currently working an 8:00-5:00 job, I do have more free time during the day and if I tried to fill all of that time with works, I would be exhausted.  Thankfully, I am discovering the benefits to one's spiritual journey of resting and how taking time to rest in God actually fills you with the love, compassion, and energy that is vital in serving others.

I have tried to make a conscious effort to slow down and take time to rest in God.  It's very easy to do this while visiting the breathtaking Zuma Beach:

And while driving through Pepperdine's gorgeous campus I was reminded of the creation story in which God rested on the seventh day!

As you can see, I began following the deer a little too closely and they quickly left me behind!

Can you spot the deer in the next picture?!  Hint: There are more than one!

He is Everywhere, if I will just put down my to-do list and rest in Him.  During my CBS devotional I was reminded of what Oswald Chambers said in his wonderfully encouraging book of daily devotionals, My Utmost for His Highest, "The main thing about Christianity is not the work we do, but the relationship we maintain and the atmosphere produced by that relationship."