"Come unto me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."
Rest. It's not something we Americans do very well. Studies show that Americans are overworked and overstressed. Even during this three-day Fourth of July weekend, people will be checking their smart phones for work emails, social media updates, and breaking industry news.
Read full transcript..."Come away to a place where there are no cell phones, your iPad will not work, a place where you can rest and be recharged." An attractive sounding invitation in the midst of our fast-paced, over-scheduled, information-filled days. Our busyness seems to preclude time for family meals, in-depth conversation with friends, times to just sit still for a few minutes in the silence. We seem to enjoy the hectic pace of our lives for seldom do I meet someone who is eager to tell me about their down time, but I do often hear stories of busyness. Our culture supposes that activity and accomplishment are better than rest. We identify ourselves to one another most often by what we do rather than who we are. I find myself easily slipping into a rhythm of activity that allows little time for refreshment of body and soul. Sabbath, meaning literally "to cease," is a gift that invites us to step away from our over scheduled, busy lives and experience rest. An invitation to escape to a place apart where one can find Sabbath is enticing.
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