Needed Rest
“Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths, or the turning inwards in prayer for five short minutes.” ~ Etty Hillesum
To some, “work” is a necessary evil. To others, “work” is a four-letter word. To others, “work” is liberating and joyful. Whatever frame of mind we have toward work, we realize that the flip side of work is leisure. We need to take time off from our work, once in a while, in order to energize ourselves to continue our labors.
Labor Day gives some people that opportunity. Of course, we realize that, for others, Labor Day might be just another day of work, another day of “the grind”.
Whether today is a day of work or a holiday, we are challenged to take the necessary time to turn inwards for a while in prayer, acknowledging all that God has done for us. It is only then that we can ask God for the grace that we need to complete all that remains to be done.
Too much work is not good. Neither is too much leisure. We need to find the right balance of work and leisure in our lives. God gave us our abilities in order to accomplish work. He also gave us the mandate to take time away from work in order to pray. How many times did He instruct His disciples to go off for a while and pray, in order to recharge themselves? Jesus did as He preached, too. He went off many times to spend quality time with God.
Life is a labor. Our life will only be successful if we reach the balance that is required between work and leisure. On their web page, the Archdiocese of Detroit has the following prayer for Labor Day: May our working and our resting all give praise to you until the day we share together in eternal rest with all our departed in your Kingdom as you live and reign Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
FAITH ACTION: Even if only for a few short minutes, take the time to turn inwards today and ask God to be a part of all that you do, whether it be labor or rest.