“…so on the seventh day He rested from all His work.” Genesis
2:2
In the Bible the word “rest” literally has to do with “the cessation of
motion, quietness”. In our busy culture and lives it is important that we find
ways to experience “rest” as “cessation of motion and quietness”. But it may
be that in Genesis 2:2 God’s rest meant more than ‘cessation of motion.” I
mean, I don’t think God needed to take a nap. Instead, if we think of His
“rest” as something God did instead of “all His work” then it is possible that
rest can be experienced in ways other than “the cessation of motion.”
Let me give you some examples from our summer “rest”.
I often play golf very early on Monday mornings; as soon as there is enough
light to see. I can be on the first tee by 5am. Not surprisingly I am usually
alone on the course except for the groundskeepers on their tractor-mowers,
sometimes with their lights on. One groundskeeper occasionally greets me with a
wave. Another recognizes me but is, understandably, not as friendly. One early
morning I very nearly hit him with a slightly misdirected golf shot.
Why play golf so early in the morning? Partly for exercise. At that hour
there is no golfer ahead of me to slow me down. The course is somewhat hilly so
walking it at a brisk pace while carrying a set of golf clubs makes for good
exercise. Also, I like the very early morning quiet and peace, even with
occasional nearby traffic noise.
I know golf-at-sunrise may seem a little odd but it is, in its own sleep
deprived way, restful.
In early summer Judi and I spent six days at her mom and dad’s home in Los
Angeles. We did a little sightseeing and we had great conversation and fun
around their dining room table, but most of our time was spent on home
improvement projects. We prepared and planted a new flower bed. We took down a
rotten fence gate and built, painted, and hung a new one. We also took off old
baseboards and installed new material.
It was hot and the work was sometimes tedious but it was, in its own sweaty
way, restful.
When we got home we went to work on our house. We had some new flooring and
new doors installed which meant we had to remove all the old baseboard and door
casing. We then painted, installed, spackled, repainted and stained new
baseboard and trim in much of the house. Judi and I often worked together which
helped make the work more enjoyable…usually.
Toward the end of these projects we just wanted to be done with them but for
the most part this work was, in its own tiring way, restful.
Later this summer we spent 4 days near Leavenworth in a very nice condo
where we came close to experiencing rest as “the cessation of motion”. We
slowed down, read a lot, watched the chipmunks (or were they squirrels?) scamper
about. We took early evening walks, worked on crossword puzzles, did some
window shopping in Leavenworth and basically did a lot of pleasant nothing.
It was four days of near “cessation of motion” and was, in its own obvious
way, restful.
This past Sunday night about 9:30 our daughter Stephanie was driving home
and called to tell us there was some “crazy lightning” on the east side. Judi
is something of a lightning enthusiast so we got into the car and did some minor
league storm chasing. We eventually found a spot on Sand Point Way that
provided an unobstructed view of Lake Washington and the eastern sky. We
parked and for an hour or so we just sat and watched the dark eastern sky light
up with erratic bursts of light and sudden bolts of lightning.
Rest is often planned but occasionally it presents itself in small
unexpected opportunities that should be grabbed and savored.
Our summer “rest” came to us in a variety of experiences. I think that’s
the way it is with rest. Sometimes it is the “cessation of motion” and
sometimes it is something else.