A Little R&R Does the Body Good!

Photo by blondieb38 on Morgue File.

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After a long day at work or school, what are your favorite ways to wind down and decompress?

Decompression, yes, well, it sounds like something rather painful! Maybe it is just too early in the morning. We all have need to unwind or wind down after a long day. The problem often is that the day does not end after work or school. You go home and you have tasks and chores to do there. You have clothes to wash or dinners to cook or floors to sweep or roofs to mend . . . on and on we could go.

While there are those times to just vege out, they are hard to come by. As a father, I know that quiet time is elusive. I am thankful for their voices though. I am blessed to have girls who want my attention. I am blessed when I walk in the door one of them holds their arms up toward me and says, holdsh me, holdsh me Dada. And the other wants me to watch TV with her or take her outside to play.

I try to catch moments during the day to unwind a bit. I do not count on those long times of peace and relaxation, because I am never sure if they will come or not. I am thankful when they do. But, I have found if I steal some time here and there throughout the day, it can make a big difference. If you look for it, normally, there is time to be had during the course of an average day.

Rest is important. After all, God gave an entire day just for that: the Sabbath. Do you think God may be trying to tell us something? He created us. He formed and fashioned our bodies. So, I suspect he knows a great deal about all of it. He knows that rest is important to the machinery of humanity. If we do not find rest, we will break down. It will be like an automobile running with no oil in the crankcase, eventually the engine will seize and it will be dead in the water. Our bodies need rest and relaxation.

As we move closer to Holy Week, again I am contemplating the life of Christ. Jesus found times to be alone. He found times to unwind and spend time with his Father in meditation and prayer. If Jesus, the God-Man, had to find times of rest, don’t you think we should too? Jesus understood the labors and travails of human life. He understands all about sore feet, sweaty brows, tired backs and long, trying days. He set up shop amongst the throngs and mobs. He tabernacled amongst us. He not only sacrificed himself on Good Friday, but many days as he ministered and gave of himself to the sick and infirmed.

He knew the value and necessity of rest. He knew the importance of unwinding and relaxing.

There is a difference between unwinding and laziness. Some think if you are idle at all you are lazy. Jesus clearly dispels this notion. It is not laziness to re-energize your physical batteries. It is not lazy to take care of your body. It is not lazy to rest one’s mind.

We all know the dangers of burn out and stress; of pushing ourselves too hard for too long. Our demeanor changes. Our attitudes and personalities grow dark and defensive. Our fuses become short and explosive. Our temper is seething just below the surface, ready to lash out and shred anyone and everyone. In short, we become the worst version of ourselves.

So, rest. Find times to unwind. Find times to relax. Find times to play and enjoy this thing called life. If you will, you will find you have lots more energy to face those long days than you would otherwise.