Rest in peace. This is something we often say to or about the dearly departed. It’s a lovely sentiment, so lovely that I wonder why we wish it exclusively to those who have died. Wouldn’t it be nice to rest in peace while we’re still alive?
Some might respond with the familiar saying “I can rest when I’m dead,” revealing in stark terms our culture’s extreme bias against taking a break. We have endless to do lists, we aspire to be efficient multitaskers, we praise go-getters. Our so-called down time is filled with hobbies, entertainment, adventures, and more. We judge those who take a more relaxed approach to life as lazy, going nowhere, losers. We even go so far as to condemn doing nothing as a sin: “Idle hands do the devil’s work.” Yikes. Even God rested on the seventh day.
Several friends have recently expressed soul-crushing exhaustion. One was in tears, another depressed, a third having stress related health issues. All were overwhelmed by too much to do. None would allow themselves a much needed respite. Harsh self-judgment characterized their assessment of their situations.
One mentioned wanting to get back to a spiritual practice, which seemed like one more thing to add to the list, one more thing that there was never enough time for. What if, I suggested, your spiritual practice was rest? Long pause. Some confusion. A glimmer of hope. Is that possible? Permissible? What have we done to ourselves that such a suggestion seems so far out of reach, maybe even seems so wrong?
It takes courage to go against our conditioning, real courage to give ourselves permission to care for ourselves, to love ourselves, to find our own way, to align ourselves with the rhythms of existence. All of nature rests. Even some human cultures value resting. That we don’t does not make us right or better or smarter. It makes us crazy.
If we look deeper at the concept of resting in peace, we see that it applies even when there are a lot of things we need to do. Our circumstances might not be conducive to peaceful physical rest, but even in the midst of external chaos, we can rest in internal peace. Always. Spiritual respite is always and already available to us, in each moment, with every breath. A friend shared that when things were tumultuous at home with three small children, she and her husband would look at each other and say, “Living in the eye, baby. Living in the eye.” We can choose to move from the whirling winds of life, not to escape them, but to go right into the center where there is quiet, where there is peace.
When my grandson was a baby, his dad was trying to soothe him into nap time. My grandson was not having it. No amount of bouncing, reading, singing, rocking, quieted him. Finally, in exasperation and exhaustion, his dad begged, “Embrace the nap, son!”
May we, too, embrace the nap, live in the eye, and rest in peace.
Rest and be thankful. ~William Wordsworth
I haven’t stoped by for a really long time. I enjoyed reading your thoughts today. Your last thoughts on Embrace the nap; I need to do that now.
Love & Hugs!!
LeAnn! What a nice surprise. Thanks so much for stopping by. Hope you had a nice nap!
As you know, Galen, not too long ago I was struggling with the idea of no clear motivators moving forward. Some of my activities no longer satisfied. I was fighting the “emptiness.”
These phrases in today’s post hit me where I live: “Long pause. Some confusion. A glimmer of hope.”
I am better at fully embracing the pauses that are now occurring. A new meditation program has helped keep me focused on today and what is happening all around me.
The idea of rest only being for the dead is a notion that needs revision! Thank you for your spot-on thoughts today.
Bob, I’m pleased to hear that your fallow time is becoming more restful. A meditation practice can be so helpful. Glad the post resonated for you. Love to you and Betty.
We celebrate our 49th anniversary Thursday. We are blessed to have you as a dear friend and an important part of our life.
Happy Anniversary!! I hope you have a wonderful celebration. Love you both.
I’m rereading 10 steps to Finding Your Happy Place for maybe the 3rd time and enjoying it all over again. I found a note I had written in it (to myself) declaring that I am “a problem solver, always right, and vigilant.” Does that sound familiar! At 85 years old, I am finally relaxing a little and finding my happy place.
So funny about timing, Judy. I just this morning pulled out my copy to review the chapter on Step 2 about deciding if you want to be right or happy, which includes a section on problem solving. And then I saw your comment. I must have been channeling you! So glad that you continue to find the book relevant, and that you are relaxing a little and living in your happy place. I’m definitely embracing the idea of “rest” as a spiritual practice these days! Thanks for commenting.
Love this post. A line from The Color Purple resonates with me – sometimes I sets & thinks & sometimes I just set. Rest in the space that gives pause/pause in the space. I really appreciate the quiet space. Like nature in this NE part of Alberta, winter has become a time of rest. Snow means slow – wintering in anticipation of the next season’s activities.
That is a great quote, Mona. Thanks for sharing it. I spent a few years in NW Montana in my young adulthood as a back to the land hippie. I lived out in the mountains off the grid. Winter was my favorite season. I was miles from anywhere with nothing but snow and LOTS of stars at night. It was indeed peaceful. A friend at that time said, “Winter is when the earth is pregnant.” Waiting for what is to emerge in the spring, like you said.
Although not an exact match, a slogan that goes hand in hand with rest in peace is: Live simply so that others may simply live.
That is also a good slogan, Collin. Another concept that goes against much of our cultural conditioning. Thanks for sharing that.