Tag: rest

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We live in a world that loves to rush around. A world that encourages busyness and never having enough time to do everything on our list. We are constantly goal seeking and looking to the next thing; racing rather than resting. The need to always be present, online or looking busy can be draining. I meet many artists from all backgrounds who mention their exhaustion, disrupted focus, and unmet deadlines that eventually lead to disillusionment and burn out. The fear of missing out or not having enough work leads to having stakes in too many projects and can leave a feeling that we haven’t given our best.  

In Genesis, a clear pattern of work and rest is displayed in the creation story. It’s not just a pattern but a rhythm that continues infinitely. God works for six days of the week, then on the seventh day he rests. This continuous divinely inspired rhythm invites us to foster a lifestyle that is sustainable, that protects our health and well-being and gives us space to enjoy our lives. It also gives us room to enjoy our relationship with God and to spend time with him. God’s attitude to rest is so important that it’s highlighted in the first chapter of the first book of the Bible; it is part of his design for humanity right from the word go. 

Genesis 2 verses 2-3 says 

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.1 

We learn from this story that God ordained the completion of work and the time to rest as holy. Holy meaning sacred, set apart, consecrated, to be treated with reverence and respect. I know for many artists at the end of a project we begin to rush into the next, never fully giving ourselves time to rest, reflect and recharge ourselves for the new. We start the next project half empty without respecting our basic need to just be rather than to do. If our artistic work is for the Lord whether Christian or secular, following God’s pattern will help us to make creations that are holy and reverent, and we will be physically, mentally and spiritually ready to do the work.  

Creativity is a rhythm, a lifestyle, a choice. Yes there are times when it flows freely and we want to make the most of the ideas; however if our creativity takes over our lives and doesn’t allow us to be, then this is counter-productive. Creativity should not control our lives, it should enhance it. Creativity should draw us nearer to God rather than moving us further away. 

1 New International Version (NIV) 

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® 

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After five weeks of quarantine, the COVID-19 situation is no longer a surprise to the nation. We’re settling into new routines, ways of working and communicating, and accepting that life is going to be very different for the next few months at least. For some people life hasn’t changed at all: key workers are working harder than ever to keep essential services going, whilst others have found themselves unexpectedly unemployed. This has led many people to raise questions as to what this season in life may be all about…

For some time, I have felt that this is a season of rest and resetting. On an international scale, we’ve never had a period of time where so many nations have come to a halt all at the same time. We no longer need to travel to work, school or church. There are no social activities available to entertain us outside of our homes, and our travel footprint has been reduced to one trip a week to the supermarket. We now have to time to stop, think, reflect and enjoy where we are. There is no doubt that we will come out of this lockdown wanting different things in our lives, most importantly, a much simpler existence. The resting period is teaching us that there so many things in life that we don’t need: no non-essential items cluttering up daily living. Things that stop us being who we are, drain our energy, or divert our attention into needless causes. 

This is also a period of incubation. New hobbies have been found, new business ideas developed and there is space for artistic and creative exploits. Even the way we work, shop and reach out to our families and friends has evolved. Technology is almost struggling to catch up with us. There is no doubt there will be an explosion of innovation and development from this period of lockdown. But all of these things emanate from rest. The space to be able to stop, think and relax in order to let the mind wander and create. 

The reflection also helps us to let go of failures and hurts form the past. We have an opportunity to deal with the things that worry and hound us. If we let go of those things now, we will be fit and ready for a new season. Our “busyness” has stopped us from dealing with past issues and now is the time to be healing and forgiving ourselves and others. This truly is a time of divine reset, starting over and rebuilding from scratch. Forgiveness flows from resting in the knowledge that the past has gone, and resetting ourselves by letting go of the past. Forgiveness leads to a fresh start. 

Air pollution is at an all time low for the first time in decades, probably even a century. The earth is recovering from the ordeal that we have put it through. One of my friends commented that “..while humanity struggles to breath with COVID-19, the earth can breath for the first time in years.” An unexpected positive side effect from the lockdown is that our environment is cleaner and safer than ever; humanity is being forced to let the world heal and flourish. 

Although this period of time is frightening and frustrating in many ways, the outcome of resting and resetting life will benefit humanity long after this season is over. If you can take anything from this strange season of confinement, it’s the rediscovery of who you are, and the preparation for the next season ahead. A new season is loading, and this is merely the buffering while the season downloads. So rest ready for the reset. 

Photo by hammondgower.co.uk