Even though summer is coming to an end, it is necessary to reflect on the ongoing need for proper rest and relaxation. The reason, as we all know, is because we live in a very hectic and fast-paced culture, one that fills our days with countless demands, pressures and responsibilities.
We rightly treasure time for relaxation, but we do not always find it or realize how it invigorates us to carry out the vocation and work entrusted to us. Thus, I would like to reflect on what makes for genuine refreshment, and on the importance of leisure for the family, as the rest that God desires for us is never out of season!
A good starting point is the Third Commandment: “Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work; but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work.” We should understand this commandment (and all of them) as a gift. God desires that we rest. He gave this commandment after he had freed the Israelites from slavery, to keep them from subjecting themselves again to a total-work existence. God desires the same for us, that we avoid that kind of life that enslaves us to our work.
God desires for us the kind of leisure that is restorative. That is authentic re-creation. Our leisure should restore our mental, spiritual and physical health. It should rejuvenate our relationships with others and, most of all, with him.
Allow me to offer some specific suggestions for attaining leisure that truly restores us.
Plan ahead.
To relax properly we need to clear the calendar, schedule the time and get our work done beforehand. Sometimes we need to be deliberate about not allowing other things to interfere with our time off. Incidentally, this helps explain why God commands us to rest. He knows how prone we are to filling our schedules. If we fail to sit down and plan things out, we will never have the rest we need.
Schedule open time.
At the end of a holiday or weekend, people might ask, “What did you do while you were away?” We are pressured to list the things we did. Again, we can easily fall into the trap of filling even our free time with a myriad of activities. The constant pressure to do something quickly gets in the way of just being together and present. Not every moment has to be documentable.
Sometimes the most important things are those that seem “useless” to the world. As we have learned during these past couple of years, the family simply being together and not doing anything is one such thing. At those moments, nothing is produced. We know that such times — sitting on the beach, watching a fishing line, telling stories around the campfire, etc. — are more important than anything else. Those moments signify a healthy relationship, that we can be together doing nothing and not be bored, distracted or feel like we need to be productive.
Keep technology to a minimum.
By way of our digital technology, we have an array of entertainment — movies, shows, games, social media, etc. — at our disposal. Some of it can be fun and enjoyable, however, we should beware of becoming dependent on it or “vegging out” with it. Earlier this summer, I asked a teen participating in our diocesan Work Camp how challenging it was to be without her phone all week. I was expecting to hear how difficult it was to break away. She conveyed the opposite! She said it was a gift, and relaxing, not to have her phone accessible. This is a sign of what young people, and all of us, need.
Schedule couple time.
I especially encourage married couples to set aside time just for themselves, to restore their love for one another. Parents always want to do the best for their children, and there is a temptation to think that their children must always be the focus. But remember, the most important thing for children is their parents’ faithful and loving relationship. When spouses deepen and strengthen their marriage bond, they give their children a precious gift!
Rest with God.
In the end, we are restored and rejuvenated by God. In the scheduling of our leisure, we must include time with him: Sunday Mass, the daily Rosary, a visit to the Blessed Sacrament and so on. These are all times for us to pause, spend time with him, and allow him to settle our hearts and restore our spirits. Leisure with God is the best rest possible!
Please know of my prayers for all of you and your families, that you consistently find the renewal, leisure, and recreation you need and deserve.
