A Theology of Rest

As the days shorten and the dark hours stretch, every impulse is to slow down and try to hibernate until the spring. Maybe our minds and bodies are telling us we're not supposed to be working so hard, always "eating the bread of anxious toil" (Psalm 127). The instinct to rest in that quiet space of time between when the last leaves fall and the first sounds of spring arrive, resonates with ancient human and biological rhythms. And we should listen to it.

One of my favourite prayers is Wilfred Arlan Peterson's prayer meditation entitled "Slow me down, Lord". It's well worth checking out. Here are a few lines.

"Slow me down, Lord. Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind. Teach me the art of taking 'minute vacations' … of slowing down to look at a flower, to chat with a friend, to read a few lines from a good book".

Taking 'minute vacations' during the day, even a nap now and then, can only do us good. Sleep is important. Scientists have proved that lack of sleep is in keeping with increased rates of heart disease. It also makes us angrier, more unhappy and less capable of creative, compassionate and intelligent thought. Sadly, sleep is all too often perceived as a sign of weakness, while burn-out and sleep deprivation are considered to be macho signs of strength.

However, this seasonal urge to rest isn't only a physical need; it is also an invitation to a spiritual practice, a better way of understanding ourselves and our place in the world. Sleep is portrayed in the Christian tradition as a grace and even an act of worship. The Psalmist says that he can sleep peacefully because God is his protector (Psalm 4). The Psalmist also says that God "gives his beloved sleep" (Psalm 127). It has been said that the number one enemy of spiritual health today is exhaustion.

So even if we cannot hibernate all winter long, we can at least make more time to sleep during the day. Moreover, taking the odd nap can also be understood as a form of resistance against the compulsive work culture that all too often breeds exhaustion.

Sleep also holds surprising biblical significance. In one of the more famous biblical naps, the prophet Elijah is running for his life, escaping political retaliation. He despairs and gives up. He's had enough. Resentful and bitter, he prays to die, lies down and takes a nap. Only then does an Angel show up and offer to help him. He is renewed enough after his short sleep to find the will to live and continue on his journey. In the Gospels, before Jesus miraculously calms a storm, he first has to be woken up because he has dosed off on the boat. Amid a turbulent story, Jesus is asleep, out like a light!

So maybe we should relish the opportunity this season presents to renew our spiritual energy by making time for the odd nap!