I'm reading The Second World War by Winston Churchill and found his views on rest very interesting. Just after the war began and he was given the lead role in the British Navy he decided to take a nap everyday as soon after lunch as possible. Here's his explanation:
...I had recourse to a method of life which had been forced upon me at the Admiralty in 1914 and 1915, and which I found greatly extended my daily capacity for work. I always went to bed at least for one hour as early as possible in the afternoon, and exploited to the full my happy gift of falling almost immediately into deep sleep. By this means I was able to press a day and a half's work into one. Nature had not intended mankind to work from eight in the morning until midnight without that refreshment of blessed oblivion which, even if it only lasts twenty minutes, is sufficient to renew all of the vital forces. I regretted having to send myself to bed like a child every afternoon, but I was rewarded by being able to work through the night until two or even later-sometimes much later-in the morning, and begin the new day between eight and nine o'clock. This routine I observed throughout the war, and I commend it to others if and when they find it necessary for a long spell to get the last scrap out of human structure.
Pretty well written! Couldn't have said it better myself.
Showing posts with label Rest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rest. Show all posts
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Crash and Burn
What happens when an airplane runs out of fuel in mid-air?
Crash and Burn.
What happens when a hot-air balloon runs out of hot air while floating above a city?
Crash and Burn.
What happens when a 37 year old father of 4 pushes it to the limits right before the holidays?
Crash and Burn.
And that is exactly what happened to me this past Friday on Christmas Eve.
We were in Cincinnati after a whirlwind month of parties, family gatherings, shopping, gift-wrapping, traveling, and sight-seeing. Additionally, work in a school is especially intense just before the holidays-just ask anyone who has ever worked with sugar-filled, Santa craving kids in December! On the way to the mall to get photos of the kids with their cousins I leaned over to Sarah, who was driving, and told her to pull over right away...
The kids got a kick out of watching me claim the corner of the road near the CVS with what used to be the contents of my stomach. But for me I was getting kicked in a slightly different way. I was wiped-out!
Two Christmases ago I crashed and burned on Christmas Day. We were home in Charlottesville and I spent all day in bed with a massive headache and fever.
I remember that the Christmas of 2005 was pretty rough. That was the Christmas during grad school when I was taking a full-load of classes, involved with an urban ministry, working 5 jobs, and trying to help Sarah with the soon to be 3 children (she was 7 months pregnant with Oak).
In my mind I have a Norman Rockwell like picture of what the Christmas/New Year's Holiday should be like, but I have not seen that picture come to life in reality yet. My 21st century picture is less austere...its more intense and energized (which I think is how I like it)! I just need to remember that sleep is important and there is an end to how much intensity my body can handle.
Crash and Burn.
What happens when a hot-air balloon runs out of hot air while floating above a city?
Crash and Burn.
What happens when a 37 year old father of 4 pushes it to the limits right before the holidays?
Crash and Burn.
And that is exactly what happened to me this past Friday on Christmas Eve.
We were in Cincinnati after a whirlwind month of parties, family gatherings, shopping, gift-wrapping, traveling, and sight-seeing. Additionally, work in a school is especially intense just before the holidays-just ask anyone who has ever worked with sugar-filled, Santa craving kids in December! On the way to the mall to get photos of the kids with their cousins I leaned over to Sarah, who was driving, and told her to pull over right away...
The kids got a kick out of watching me claim the corner of the road near the CVS with what used to be the contents of my stomach. But for me I was getting kicked in a slightly different way. I was wiped-out!
Two Christmases ago I crashed and burned on Christmas Day. We were home in Charlottesville and I spent all day in bed with a massive headache and fever.
I remember that the Christmas of 2005 was pretty rough. That was the Christmas during grad school when I was taking a full-load of classes, involved with an urban ministry, working 5 jobs, and trying to help Sarah with the soon to be 3 children (she was 7 months pregnant with Oak).
In my mind I have a Norman Rockwell like picture of what the Christmas/New Year's Holiday should be like, but I have not seen that picture come to life in reality yet. My 21st century picture is less austere...its more intense and energized (which I think is how I like it)! I just need to remember that sleep is important and there is an end to how much intensity my body can handle.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Sabbath Rest...
The original Sabbath was Saturday. There are still a ton of people who celebrate on Saturday, but most of the folks I know think of Sunday as the Sabbath. I think it has to do with Adam and Eve's first living day being the day of God's rest after creation...their first day was full of enjoying all God had done the previous 6 days. True to form, God wants us to begin with rest and worship rather than end with it. Not only is the Sabbath supposed to occupy 1/7th of our life, it is supposed to occupy the first 1/7th of our life.
There are those two words! There is the phrase that makes every agnostic nerve boil. There are the words that jump out and grab my "rest", dragging it to the ground and kicking it until its loins are black and blue and every rib broken. There are the words that bring the car of "rest" crashing against a tree...that catapult "true rest" off the road of peace over the cliff of duty crashing it on the rocks of joyless obligation. The phrase slipped in there almost unconsciously but unavoidably...the phrase, if you missed it, is "supposed to."
Anything like "supposed to," "ought to," or "should" conjures feelings in me of obligation, indebtedness, work, accountability, and requirement. My breaks in life are "supposed to" be breaks from all of the "supposed tos" in life! Additionally, religions are full of "supposed tos" that lay guilt on my conscious and create neurotic fears.
I just re-watched "Chariots of Fire" which, amongst other things, highlights Eric Liddel's plight when he learned that the first heat of his 100 yard dash in the 1924 Olympics fell on a Sunday. His conviction about the Sabbath wouldn't allow him to run on Sunday so he withdrew from the race and ran the 400 yard dash a few days later. The story is gripping and Eric heroically triumphs in the face of opposition. Stonewall Jackson was a Sabbath keeper, too. When the battles fell on Sunday he would give the brigade the next day off to rest. He was arguably the most dynamic leader of the Civil War.
Today is Sunday and, in my culture, a day of rest. Even in Army basic training, where every day was exactly the same horrible experience, Sunday's seemed different. Sunday's were more peaceful...or is hopeful the right word for it?
I'm not a strict Sabbath keeper, but I do see that God's obligation to observe a Sabbath is wise and purposeful. Its similar to requiring Abigail to take a nap even though she doesn't want to...she needs it but as a two year old she doesn't want to miss out on all the other fun going on. If she doesn't get a nap, however, life is pretty miserable for her (and everyone else around her). She won't make the choice to rest when she needs it so I make the choice for her because that is what is best in the big picture.
Keeping a Sabbath is a deliberate choice. I have to choose to rest rather than rush; choose to turn-off the water flow of life rather than leaving it on. It is also a matter of trust...trust in God that life will not fall apart when I spend a day resting.
I should finish by saying that the Sabbath is intended not just to rest, but to rest with God. I've heard it said that God is most glorified when we are most satisfied with Him alone. Adam and Eve were not just in the Garden of Eden resting, they were in the Garden of Eden resting with God...he was present with them in the Garden. A Sabbath without worship is like a garden without plants. God's intent in the Sabbath, I believe, is to reconnect us to Him, His Church, and our truest passion. A Sabbath should leave us energized and focused, with a clearer mind and purpose so that we are ready to embrace the bedlam of the other 6 days of the week.
When Abigail is resistant to rest I find myself trying to Lull her to sleep in my arms. Today I'm going to let God Lull me to rest in his arms.
There are those two words! There is the phrase that makes every agnostic nerve boil. There are the words that jump out and grab my "rest", dragging it to the ground and kicking it until its loins are black and blue and every rib broken. There are the words that bring the car of "rest" crashing against a tree...that catapult "true rest" off the road of peace over the cliff of duty crashing it on the rocks of joyless obligation. The phrase slipped in there almost unconsciously but unavoidably...the phrase, if you missed it, is "supposed to."
Anything like "supposed to," "ought to," or "should" conjures feelings in me of obligation, indebtedness, work, accountability, and requirement. My breaks in life are "supposed to" be breaks from all of the "supposed tos" in life! Additionally, religions are full of "supposed tos" that lay guilt on my conscious and create neurotic fears.
I just re-watched "Chariots of Fire" which, amongst other things, highlights Eric Liddel's plight when he learned that the first heat of his 100 yard dash in the 1924 Olympics fell on a Sunday. His conviction about the Sabbath wouldn't allow him to run on Sunday so he withdrew from the race and ran the 400 yard dash a few days later. The story is gripping and Eric heroically triumphs in the face of opposition. Stonewall Jackson was a Sabbath keeper, too. When the battles fell on Sunday he would give the brigade the next day off to rest. He was arguably the most dynamic leader of the Civil War.
Today is Sunday and, in my culture, a day of rest. Even in Army basic training, where every day was exactly the same horrible experience, Sunday's seemed different. Sunday's were more peaceful...or is hopeful the right word for it?
I'm not a strict Sabbath keeper, but I do see that God's obligation to observe a Sabbath is wise and purposeful. Its similar to requiring Abigail to take a nap even though she doesn't want to...she needs it but as a two year old she doesn't want to miss out on all the other fun going on. If she doesn't get a nap, however, life is pretty miserable for her (and everyone else around her). She won't make the choice to rest when she needs it so I make the choice for her because that is what is best in the big picture.
Keeping a Sabbath is a deliberate choice. I have to choose to rest rather than rush; choose to turn-off the water flow of life rather than leaving it on. It is also a matter of trust...trust in God that life will not fall apart when I spend a day resting.
I should finish by saying that the Sabbath is intended not just to rest, but to rest with God. I've heard it said that God is most glorified when we are most satisfied with Him alone. Adam and Eve were not just in the Garden of Eden resting, they were in the Garden of Eden resting with God...he was present with them in the Garden. A Sabbath without worship is like a garden without plants. God's intent in the Sabbath, I believe, is to reconnect us to Him, His Church, and our truest passion. A Sabbath should leave us energized and focused, with a clearer mind and purpose so that we are ready to embrace the bedlam of the other 6 days of the week.
When Abigail is resistant to rest I find myself trying to Lull her to sleep in my arms. Today I'm going to let God Lull me to rest in his arms.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Music...
Last Saturday on my way home from the hardware store there was an acoustic guitar version Sweet Child O' Mine playing on the radio. The guy playing had a really good looping pedal and before he was 30 seconds into it I was on the phone calling the radio station to find out who was playing...it is an amazing, beautiful, intense arrangement. By the time I had reached home (only 10 minutes away) I had downloaded the song from iTunes. I have to share it with you! Here's the link to the Youtube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWPQLDKOnh4
This reminded me of something I have known for years: music matters. At one time called "the music of the spheres," humans have always connected with organized sound. Hearing a good song, or being sidetracked by a piece that completely captures you, provides a sweet release and deeper meaning to the mundane, terrible, or wonderful moments of my life. Because of the song, and the story it has created for me, I will always remember last weeks routine Saturday trip to Martin's Hardware.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWPQLDKOnh4
This reminded me of something I have known for years: music matters. At one time called "the music of the spheres," humans have always connected with organized sound. Hearing a good song, or being sidetracked by a piece that completely captures you, provides a sweet release and deeper meaning to the mundane, terrible, or wonderful moments of my life. Because of the song, and the story it has created for me, I will always remember last weeks routine Saturday trip to Martin's Hardware.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Verbs...
"Verbs are action words..." This is the mantra of every teacher who has ever tried to teach me how words fit together. "Action" speaks of "doing." But there are important verbs that are not full of action:
Pause
Quiet
Stop
Comfort
Rest
Dwell
I think I can use all of them in a sentence:
"Today I am going to pause and be quiet, stop my mind from racing and comfort my soul with thoughts of rest as I dwell in the skin God has given me."
I hope you will, too.
Pause
Quiet
Stop
Comfort
Rest
Dwell
I think I can use all of them in a sentence:
"Today I am going to pause and be quiet, stop my mind from racing and comfort my soul with thoughts of rest as I dwell in the skin God has given me."
I hope you will, too.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The Olympics are bad for my rest...
The Olympics are bad for my rest! Last night, around 9:30, Sarah and I decided to turn on the men's figure skating...it didn't end until midnight! By that point, after hours of hearing stories about male figure skaters competing with one another, I was wired and tense. It was at least 1:30 before I fell asleep!
I know, we need a DVR or TIVO. But that requires cable ($30 or so a month) and a subscription ($15 a month). And if $45 a month was all it took to help me rest more it would definitely be worth it. But I have a feeling that having access to these things would actually encroach on my rest more often and more pervasively than what is already happening. If we had cable and a TIVO I'd be able to watch Zack and Cody, the History Channel, MTV etc...and if my childhood is any example I would spend many hours on my tail end not really sleeping, but not really being awake either.
The real choice is not whether to spend $45 on cable and a TIVO. The choice is between entertainment and rest...which is more important? Ugh. I love them both. But I have to choose...tonight I choose rest and sleep!
I know, we need a DVR or TIVO. But that requires cable ($30 or so a month) and a subscription ($15 a month). And if $45 a month was all it took to help me rest more it would definitely be worth it. But I have a feeling that having access to these things would actually encroach on my rest more often and more pervasively than what is already happening. If we had cable and a TIVO I'd be able to watch Zack and Cody, the History Channel, MTV etc...and if my childhood is any example I would spend many hours on my tail end not really sleeping, but not really being awake either.
The real choice is not whether to spend $45 on cable and a TIVO. The choice is between entertainment and rest...which is more important? Ugh. I love them both. But I have to choose...tonight I choose rest and sleep!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
