This proverb is often attributed to Steve Jobs. It is a valuable way of thinking. It certainly worked for him. But what does it mean? Are we to keep busy merely for the sake of societal or perceived spiritual self improvement? God forbid! It is a truth, however, that renewal is not redeemed through idleness. Binge watching every season of your favorite series is unlikely to produce anything of value. Thus, what are we to do? How are we to live when the storms are too rough to head out to sea, or our boats have been damaged by the waves to the point they are no longer sea worthy? Perhaps our nets are so full of holes and tears they fail to be functionable. Or maybe our hooks have become dull, our reels rusted, our poles warped and broken. Or could it be our casting arm is out of whack? In all these cases, repair, restoration, and even healing is needful. Without that time there can be no “next”. Not truly.
I am reminded of a season I entered into around May of 2024, a season I never asked for yet saw coming for months- a season of stillness, quietness, and rest. I thoughti had prorated myself for it mentally. Yet, the concept of “being still” was difficult for me. Who was I if I were not the job duties I had performed for the 17 previous years? Answer: I am not my job title. Nor am I the volunteer roles at my local church or in the community. These things are temporal and not intrinsically a part of our core being. This determination was to be a journey of discovery, of becoming, and unbecoming-of learning I am not what I do.
In our Western Society we have failed to understand true rest. In Genesis we are told God rested on the seventh day-the sabbath-after spending six days creating. He later told the Israelites the sabbath was created for them. Whatever you believe about creation, this is a principle worth consideration. In fact, it is a command. “Remember the Sabbath…” According to Jewish history and Biblical Scripture, for over 400 years the Israelites had been told their worth was tied to that of slave labor. But God said, “You are worthy of rest. It is important to step back from your labor, consider what you have done and where you are going.”
So…if I’m not “working” or creating in a season of rest, what am I to do? Perhaps what God did-take a step back, look at what has been done and appreciate it. In fact, He called it good and then VERY GOOD. I’m not going to get into the rules of rest, or the don’ts; but let’s look at the DOs and what can be produced in a period of inactivity.
- Worship and Reflection
- Pray, Listen and hear, attend worship services, read scripture
- Spend time with family and close friends
- Time is your most valuable asset. Invest this into the ones you love and who love you in return. Play games together, sit in a swing, share a meal, go on a picnic, engage in good old fashioned conversations
- Take time to enjoy Nature
- Creation is awe inspiring! Take a walk, sit by a stream, lay under the boughs of a beautiful tree and take a nap.
- Spend your moments appreciating the creative arts:
- Listen to music, read a book, visit a museum
- REST
- It seems counterintuitive, but this is intentional down time. The core value of the Sabbath is to promote rest, spiritual refection, and growth. YES! We grow while resting.
So, sharpen your tools, repair your nets. Enlist the help of others. Big nets are rarely repaired alone.
The Inkwell Collections 