I was thinking about the eventual planning of a three-day intensive, coach training retreat. The dilemma was when I would run it. For me, the weekend wouldn’t work because Saturday is my day of rest. Also I wouldn’t want to run it through Sunday either because for many Sunday is also a day of rest. Reflecting further, I wondered why anyone would ever want to go to a business related over the weekend.
The main reason for weekend events is that it’s the only time we have available in our busy work week. We can’t take time off from work, but we can take time from our family?
We then argue that this is for our family. If we learn these new skills, get this new information, then we can make more money and make a better life for our families.
What should be added to that last statement is ‘make a better life for our families materially.
Should it really be all about money?
In Orthodox Judaism the Sabbath is taken very seriously. God said on the seventh day rest, don’t do any work. The only reason that the Sabbath would be broken is for life threatening situations.
What happens on the Sabbath? Quality family time (no TV, no shopping), community gathering, reflection, religious study, rest.
One other important lesson is that the world keeps on running despite the Sabbath. The world doesn’t come to a crashing halt if you take a day to recharge.
I remember when the majority of businesses were closed on Sunday. What did we do back then, with no shopping? We must have been bored out of our minds.
Wrong. We spent time with family, we played, we created, adventured, prayed and reflected. These are the things that bring meaning, significance and strength into our lives.
What do we have today, with non-stop shopping and marketing and sales tactics designed to keep us buying? We work endlessly to support that habit.
We accumulate stress from trying to keep up with everybody. We emerge less connected to our friends, family, spouses and children, spending evenings in front of the TV without talking to each other.
We are so busy doing, we can’t learn about who we are. Our priorities are topsy turvy; this is a generation consumed with putting money before meaning.
Author Steven Covey, famous for the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, writes about “Sharpening The Saw.†Using the analogy of cutting down trees, if you don’t stop and sharpen the saw, then as the points get dull it will take longer to cut down a tree, until eventually the blade will be so dull that it will not cut anymore. But with regular sharpening, the saw will continue to cut down the trees.
So to if we take the time to sharpen our saws, to pause each week and recharge, we will find that we also have the ability to move forward with continued strength and purpose.
Whether you are religious or not, there is strength in a day of rest. Though there are those that say that you can take it at any time, I recommend the end of the week. There is an added calm when you know that others are spending their day in the same way.
What are you placing value on?
What will you lose by taking a day of rest?
What will you gain by taking a day of rest?
If you have had a day of rest experience, please share.
All the best,
This post was profiled in:
Energies of Creation – The Carnival of Creative Growth
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SuccessPart2.Com – Carnival of Family Life
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