by Joanie Butman
COVID has ushered in a new method of working. It remains to be seen whether the workplace will ever return to its pre-COVID practices. In many industries it has become obvious that being physically present in the office Monday through Friday isn’t necessary. That reality is sure to force the New York City real estate market into a tizzy.
New York real estate isn’t the only victim of the Working from Homeculture. While the practice has been around for a while, WFH was a term used ‘tongue-in-cheek’ as many still viewed it as a glorified day off. Given some of the offices my daughter creates at home, I can see why some may get the wrong idea: her standup desk in the pool being her most famous. You’d be amazed how productive you can be while standing in water. Truth be told, productivity hasn’t suffered under quarantine – just the opposite. The problem is that it’s more difficult to separate from the office when you live in it. Throw in a spouse also working from home, children doing classes online, a few pets and you’ve got the perfect storm.
A friend recently told me she discovered the beauty and necessity of taking time on the weekends to rest and recoup. Being a task-oriented individual, she explained that she found her weekends more of the same with a long to-do list. Nevertheless, during a recent rainy weekend she gave herself permission to do ‘nothing’ except reading and napping. She was surprised when I suggested she just learned the purpose behind the Sabbath – a new concept for her.
There’s nothing wrong with a weekend to-do list as long as you intentionally choose to include rest and relaxation among the chores. As a Christian the most important aspect to keeping the Sabbath is giving God my undivided attention, which is why I find online services so challenging. Too many distractions and I’m still plugged into a device!
Now more than ever, we need to force ourselves to unplug from devices and daily responsibilities so we can enjoy some time with our Spiritual Father, where we can experience a fresh outpouring of His Holy Spirit washing over us, quieting our minds and our souls. Think of it as creating a Divine bubble for two. A time for stillness and silence, making room for God’s presence amid the plethora of worldly noise and obligations we are subjected to. If I hadn’t committed to a daily appointment with God years ago, I never would have developed the relationship I enjoy today.
The creation story in Genesis finishes with “on the seventh day he rested.” God’s own Labor Day of sorts, but on a weekly basis. In reality God is working 24/7 yet He still instituted a Sabbath. Why? As with all of His decrees, it’s for our benefit of course. He’s always working on our behalf, and the creation of the Sabbath is no exception. Jesus answers my question Himself in Mark 2:27, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." Left to our own devices, God knew we wouldn’t take the necessary time to rest and renew physically and spiritually.
Ideally, the goal is to walk with God always, regardless of what you’re doing. There are many that have achieved this level of spiritual maturity, but more often the obligations, challenges and distractions of life tend to take over with a sense of relentless urgency that pushes spirituality to the back burner. Shooting off ‘arrow prayers’* is fine and effective, but a deep, meaningful relationship with the Divine can only be developed by spending uninterrupted time getting to know Him. Being still is a form of worship that few value in our nanosecond society. Yet, it is the most effective antidote to the anxiety epidemic sweeping our nation. “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
While God created the Sabbath, the concept is used by the secular as well. Academia provides sabbaticals, which are defined as a “period of time during which someone does not work at his or her regular job and and focuses on personal enrichment and professional development.” I can’t think of a more important personal enrichment and development than spending time with God. The best definition I’ve heard for the Sabbath is the soul-tending rest that renews your spirit and allows your connection to God and to others to be truly life-giving.
Labor Day typically marks a return to normalcy, but this year continues to redefine “normal” on a daily basis. As each new challenge arises, why not choose to create Divine bubbles where we can find rest and renewal in the middle of chaos. Christ invites us all into His bubble. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).” It’s our choice whether or not to accept His gracious invitation. Choose Wisely!