Finding Your Sabbath

"Today is a day of rest."

"Rest? We haven't done anything."

"Exactly. I've done everything. You now rest in what I've done."

If you know anything about the Enneagram, it should be glaringly obvious I am a strong Type 1, the reformer (or perfectionist...) I'm organized, responsible, orderly, and sensible, just to name a few of my more positive qualities. But for each of those more flattering attributes, I can easily give way to criticism, obsessive perfectionism, and an inability to rest.

Rest has never come easily. I will always find something that needs to be done. Even in a rare quiet moment when I'm alone in the house, I will clean the bathroom, fold laundry, work on bills, etc. Sitting, reading, watching TV, all give me a sense of unease, like I have left something undone. Even on the days I claim as my day off, I fill with appointments or some other task.

In the busy seasons of life, I power through to accomplish that which is asked of me. In the past two weeks I have helped my 8th grader get setup for virtual learning, sent my 3.5 year old to preschool, cared for my 20 month old, helped my husband get settled into his new job, found new insurance and doctors for our family, and kicked off online groups at the Cathedral. In the wake of meeting the needs of others, I forgot something very important. Me. My needs. My rest.

It's so interesting that when I am too busy to listen, God finds an abrupt way to make me pay attention. Last weekend I had no internet in my house for three days, and the Cathedral email server was down. On Saturday I woke up incredibly sick and stayed in bed all day. On Sunday, the Cathedral network crashed. I could keep going. I had neglected my Sabbath the past few weeks while meeting the needs of others. God was reminding me that the Sabbath wasn't a novel idea. It was something he commands. And the need for rest isn't just for my physical needs. It's to look deeply and rest in all that God has created and what he has done. 

Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:28-29

I am weary, and I carry burdens I shouldn't. My soul needs needs a Sabbath. So today, ironically Labor Day, I claim for rest. As soon as I'm done writing this, of course. ;)