What's the Difference Between, Resting, Relaxing and Recharging?

 Sabbath Rest ~ And Relaxation ~And Recharging

Are they different? Are they the same?  Do we need all three?  YES-YES-and-YES.  Resting can be relaxing but it can be more than that and it can lead to recharging, but recharging is also different. 


There, have I cleared things up?  Sabbath is a time to do all three!

REST  
We need to rest when we are tired.  Rest helps us move forward, rest is a necessity needed from an action we have taken which depletes us physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually. Here are some ways to rest:
1. Take a day off! (I like to call that day Sabbath!)  And I mean really take it off!  Don't check e-mails, or phone messages, don't do the thing that is expected when you are working.

2. Sleep!  Perhaps that means taking a nap if necessary but go to bed early and purposefully.
3. Be aware of what your body is telling you.  If you are a runner and something hurts....maybe now you are a jogger, or a walker.  Look for and listen to stress indicators and then act on them. 

Relax 

Relaxing is active.  I know that sounds like an oxymoron but the difference between resting and relaxing is this: When you rest you cease to do the norm which tires you out.  When you relax you do something to ease your body, mind or spirit. Here are some examples for ways to relax:
 1.  Take a walk, swim, float, meditate, do yoga etc. some sort of movement which changes your frame of mind and lets your body unwind. 2. Read, o write or compose.3.  Play! solitaire, or a group game or anything that lets you "be" in a totally different space from the norm.

Recharge
When we recharge we are building something into our repertoire which will encourage us and sustain us for our daily activities.  Here are some examples for ways to recharge.
1.  Take a class, learn something new
2.  Serve!  (My grandma use to say, "Whenever you're sad, whenever you're blue, do something nice for someone sadder than you !)
3.  Engage in a favorite hobby or start a new one. Engage/develop your creativity

Superbowl Sabbath

One of the challenges of declaring one day a week as Sabbath, is you fill the rest of the days with NOT so Sabbath like activities.  If something happens to your Sabbath day then you miss out.

Since I have claimed (re-claimed?) Sunday as Sabbath I have LOVED, LOVED, LOVED having the kids come over for a meal and some crafting, slow days, reading etc.  This last Sunday, as most of the world is well aware, was Superbowl Sunday. Now there is a tiny part of me that wants to apologize for even mentioning the Superbowl in a Sabbath blog, but we are a football family.  My husband has had a Superbowl party for 40 years with his friends and it is a truly lovely and fun tradition.  However anyone who has ever hosted anything knows that as a host, no matter how well prepared, it is seldom a relaxing, restful experience.

What I can say about the day, or any hectic day is this.  Find Sabbath where you can.  Revel in what is good.  Enjoy the people God puts in your path and try to draw energy from energy.  It makes the next Sabbath experience all the sweeter!

Sabbath Rest

Don Postema says this about rest, "We all do it already-almost intuitively.  We work and we rest. We produce and we play. We cram for an exam and we celebrate.  We achieve, but then we find a way to escape: a movie, a concert...We labor and try to find an opportunity for leisure-a day off, a vacation- so we can get recharged and return to work refreshed.  And if we don't take time off, but just keep on working, we get so exhausted that our body reacts.  We become sp fatigued that we have to take a nap, or we get sick and are forced to stop."

In the book "Catch Your Breath" they go on to ask, "What is the typical pattern of your day or week?  How do you relax?  Do you find relaxing difficult? Wasteful? Guilt producing? Beneficial? Invigorating?"

I would love to hear how rest is incorporated into your life!

I heard the voice of Jesus say, "Come unto me and rest;
lay down, o weary one; lay down your head upon my breast."

I came to Jesus as I was, so weary worn and sad;
I found in him a resting place, and he has made me glad.

                                                                - Horatius Bonar