|
Rest is not always easy |
New Perspectives To Comment on this article Click Here |
||||
|
I recently came back from some time away from work. It was a
Sabbatical; three months for rest and renewal. This is a policy of the
United Church of Canada which offers at least three months of Sabbatical
time every five years a minister serves with a congregation. It was a
privilege.
Reverend Keith Reynolds During this time I reflected on the different ways I find rest and renewal. Not having a schedule gave me room to be more in the moment. I found myself not looking ahead, anticipating what is coming next. Sure there were things that I had planned, but the planning left ample room for spontaneity. Saugeen Shores is a destination for rest and renewal during these summer months. People come here for different reasons and with their own hope for holiday time – hours at the beach, taking a course at the Art School, relaxed time at the trailer or cottage, eating ice cream, riding bikes, walking the shoreline, golfing, tennis or watching the boats come and go from the harbour. Rest is not always an easy thing. There are so many things to do and take in. So much to see and so little time to do all I would like. Schedules can reign supreme. Schedules can reflect the affirmation of being busy. How often we are rewarded or looked favourably upon by having a busy schedule. A degree of importance is given to people who lives are on the go. If our active engagement is not countered with some period of rest and renewal, we run the risk of burnout, fatigue or resentment. Holidays, on the surface can be for rest and renewal, they can also be a time full of programs, schedules and details to tend to during the week. We simply bring the busyness of ordinary life and transplant it into our holiday time.
|
One of the challenges for me, maybe for you too, is to allow unscheduled time to interrupt our lives. To plan not to make a plan. To structure unstructured time into our days. To leave room for spontaneity to emerge. In these unstructured, unscheduled and spontaneous moments, something is given to us. Maybe it offers perspective. Or it gives our body a chance to breathe a little deeper. Perhaps this time allows gratitude to have a bigger space in our lives. What are we doing this week? We can make the time. Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area. You can click on the ads for more
|
||||
|
 for
world news,
books, sports, movies ...Wednesday, August 17, 2011 |
