Snow Day

Here we are on a weekday, sitting before the fire in our pajamas.  No hurries, no worries just relaxing with a cup of coffee and time to ourselves.  How is this possible in our fast-paced, two-income society that a preretirement couple can just take time to simply enjoy a quiet pleasure like this?  Two words: SNOW DAY!!!

That's right.  And, for my California friends, a snow day occurs when the temperature drops below freezing and the rain transforms into this wet, white flaky substance we call snow that makes the roadways slippery and dangerous.  So, people stay home for the day.  Just so you know.

And, since work is taken off the table, we are having a "Three-R Day" of Reading, Relaxing and Round-to-it (getting around to a couple of things we wanted to get to all week long).  Our (child-free, pet-free) home is quiet and peaceful.  We are just lazily approaching a day where we do not plan to step a foot outside.  Wow!  How great is that?

Why is it so great?  Why is doing virtually nothing compared to a normal weekday so great when we Americans clamor for something to do and stay on the go working, playing, shopping, meeting, etc. day after day?  Because we do keep up a breakneck pace while we inwardly seek a little peace and rest but don't have permission.

Our jobs don't let us, of course.  Our kids keep us running.  Our responsibilities drive us.  So many factors are in play but the most important reason is that we have come to believe it is unproductive and down right un-American to simply rest.  We just can't seem to allow ourselves time for true "re-creation."  In fact, we come back from our vacations more tired than when we are at work.

Here's the problem - we've bought into a devilish narrative that denies us rest when, from the beginning, God himself "rested from his work" (Gen 2:2).  And, he instructed us, "For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest" (Ex 31:15).

We were designed needing and have an inward desire for times of rest.  We need times to, as my Dad use to tell me, "cool our jets."  This American ideal of constant movement is not truly productive.  It is , in fact, counter-productive as it denies us the need of regeneration or recreation - a time of rest to repair the wear and tear of activity.  Our mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health requires times like this.

Thank God for snow days but perhaps it would be better if we glorified God by making time for Sabbath rest on a regular basis.  Jus' Say'n.