Rector's Blog: Rest Here?

In the aftermath of their Exodus from Egypt, the people of Israel experienced a time of crisis. They had been freed, and this was magnificent. God had crushed the system of oppression and death that had held them in thrall for so many years. As they stood at the edge of the wilderness on the far side of the Red Sea, God was with them, and God was even in that moment delivering them into a new reality. They were in the midst of great change. And the truth is, it was catastrophic, and it was scary.

Israel knew that the way forward was a way towards healing and recovery. They had literally seen God save them. But also, here they were without any real clarity around what was next, of what was to come, or of how to get there. God may have been leading them, but following God takes faith. And when we say something takes faith, what we usually mean is that everything feels uncertain and overly ambiguous. We have to put a lot of energy into ongoing discernment. Faith requires patience and hope. Faith is really hard work. And moving through the wilderness of sustained uncertainty towards redemption would prove to be the hardest work the Israelites would ever do.

So, God told them to take a day off.

Literally.

God commanded, not suggested or recommended, but commanded that the people of Israel build into their identity a day of rest every single week. God didn’t say this is something they should think about doing once they got where they were going, once they got settled, once things made sense. God didn’t say, “If you have the chance, think about taking a day…” God said, “You take a day off. Every week. You don’t work. You don’t struggle. You don’t strive. You don’t achieve. You rest. Every single week.” Every single week. This means rest is not meant to be a goal or an ideal – it’s meant to be part of the rhythm of our lives. Indeed, it’s meant to imbue our lives with rhythm. The commandments of God, as communicated to the people in the wilderness, are not just rules: they are defining characteristics of what it means to be in healthy relationship with God, with neighbor, with creation, with self. And rest is one of those commandments.

It’s not that I should rest once I get where I’m going: It’s that I won’t get where I’m going without rest.

This is why Rest is one of the practices of the Way of Love. The Way of Love is a Jesus-centered rule of life composed of a set of 7 practices that help to define the Episcopal approach to faith: Turn, Learn, Pray, Worship, Bless, Go, Rest. Rest brings perspective. Rest brings nourishment. Rest promotes peace in the midst of uncertainty and ambiguity.

God commanded Israel to build rest into their lives, to cherish rest, and honor it even in the midst of crisis. And the change God had wrought in their life created a crisis. Of course, it was a good change, of course it was a liberating, life-giving change, but it was still a crisis. It still had a catastrophic feeling about it. And it very much required something from them. No, not something: Everything. This change required everything. Not one aspect of their lives was left unaffected. Even though change was freeing, even though it led to their salvation, it was scary and inconvenient. They had to have faith, not just as an idea or a concept, but faith was how they had to live. And they had to work – to constantly be on the move, constantly respond to God, constantly seek a way forward.

Right now, you are doing some of the hardest work you’ll ever do. Navigating the uncertainty of a pandemic in the midst of the most polarizing political climate of your lifetime and having to confront the racial issues that have plagued our country since its inception. You are seeking a way forward towards love and mercy, towards grace and justice. You want to be a person of integrity and honesty. You want to make a difference in this world. You want just to get along with your family and friends – some of whom you don’t know how to even talk to right now. You want to stay physically healthy, and you don’t want to get anyone else sick. You want to be ok financially. You want to get to 2021 and you want to be in one piece when you get there.

You will not get there in one piece if you do not rest. God’s commandment is a blessing to you. God’s commandment is rooted and grounded in love for you. It feels counterintuitive. Rest here? In the wilderness? In uncertainty? Can’t I wait? You cannot wait. Here. Now. In your uncertainty. Know God by resting. The road towards justice and peace is long, and we are walking on that road. And we need you with us: For our sake, for your sake, for God’s sake, practice rest.