Clay in the Hands

Last night I could not pass up the opportunity.  It was mid-50’s and no wind.  Shorts, flip flops and a fire in the chimnea.  As I sat and just relaxed by the fire and looked at the stars, I have to admit, I felt a little guilty.  There are so many things I could have been doing.

But as I sat there enjoying the moment, I was reminded that sometimes we just need a little time to chill out.  Watching the flames and listening to a little indie is good for the temperament and quite possibly the soul.  God was wrapped up in creating for 6 days and then rested.  What makes us think that we can go non-stop with no down time?

I read a great quote last week in an article discussing sabbath and rest.  The author quoted a pastor friend he knew as saying, “Satan doesn’t take a day off – neither should I.”  But then the author of the article commented that maybe we shouldn’t make Satan our role model.

In American culture, working non-stop with little or no rest has become a badge of honor.  We almost feel guilty to take an evening and not put in some work at home.  Technology has made it easy to work virtually anywhere and at any time.

When do we dis-connect and turn off?  When do we allow our brains to shut down?

God created us for work.  But we are also wired for rest.  We need both.  The reality is, we need rest in order to be more productive.  Our productivity suffers when we don’t take some time to regroup.

So I encourage you this week to find some time to slow down.  Just rest without feeling pressure to produce.

God can do some of his best work when we are not focused on anything in particular.

Be blessed.