The unintended blessing of societal lockdown. 

When my wife and I began having kids, I remember thinking there must be something wrong with me. I was observing all the people around me, seeing their busy schedules filled with little league, dance, committees, and other social gatherings. They were constantly coming and going; carefully arranging schedules to ensure kids were at the right place at the right time. An impressive finely tuned machine of precision schedule-keeping. 

And I wanted no part of it. 

I didn’t want to be away from my family several nights each week for the sake of taking part in local organizations and committees. Though many are noble, worthwhile causes, they were not my priority. Even though I grew up playing sports, I didn’t want to spend hours sitting on bleachers waiting for kids to be done with practice only to have them grow up and realize that sports are a part of their past. And I didn’t want to require a weekly meeting with my wife to coordinate schedules just to ensure everyone was in the right place, that every meeting was accounted for, all while looking forward to the weekend when we could fall asleep binge-watching our favorite shows. 

Thankfully, my wife and I were on the same page and began intentionally keeping our lives…simple. Our simple life has sought to include time for resting. And over the years we have reduced our possessions to cut back on distractions and spend less. The simplicity of this life creates a contentment that allows us to enjoy small moments, and modest pleasures. And we typically have time to interact with others and lend a helping hand when we know of a need.

Currently, many people are adjusting to a “new normal” that requires less. Less driving. Less activities. Less events. Less coming and going. Less shopping and buying. Less doing and more being. It’s a simpler life. 

Families are spending time playing games and taking walks around the neighborhood (at a safe distance of course). Honey-do lists are getting shorter as husbands and wives work together to get those ever-elusive projects done. Books are being read, and re-read. Conversations are being had. Time is slowing down as the hustle and bustle of life comes to a screeching halt. 

I hope it continues. 

Our culture has become so obsessed with entertainment in all its forms that we have almost forgotten how to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Our lack of contentment is not just a contribution to high levels of debt and lack of margin; our lack of contentment is a driving force in our break neck pace of life that we swear we love as we complain about constantly being tired and busy. How often do people grumble about not having time to do the things they love, missing special moments, and wishing they could slow down, only to push full steam ahead week after week? Simplicity and rest are elusive.

Our forced slowdown has, if nothing else, caused us to take a step back (maybe six or seven steps) and breathe a little deeper. We are being forced, either by a virus, God, our employer or the government, to rest a little more. It might be the best thing that’s happened to many of us in a while. We’re learning new things about our spouse, creating lifelong memories with our kids, getting to know our neighbors in new ways, and finding various means of helping others in our communities. 

The opportunity to live simpler and rest more may just be the chisel and hammer needed to make us the person we have always wanted to be. Our need for rest, and our restlessness, is being exposed and we have nothing but time to confront this demon that’s been lurking in our life for too long. 

The term “day of rest” used to mean something to even the nominally religious. For the committed faithful it was an unbreakable weekly observance wherein nothing was done but…rest. In generations past, even those that didn’t attend church weekly revered the weekly habit of resting on Sunday and were all-too happy to partake in the practice. Our current culture’s 24/7 mantra has largely eradicated any day dedicated entirely to slowing down and resting; and many modern Christians find it difficult or unnecessary. The Creator, however, seemed to think it was a healthy part of human life, and even rested after completing His work of creation. That example may be more timely today than we realize.

A well-defined theology of rest is necessary for a well-balanced life. Understanding that “for everything there is a season” reminds us that there is a time to work, and a time to cease working. (Eccl. 3:1-8) Remembering that one day has been set apart as a sacred day of rest invites us to work diligently for an appropriate amount of time, and then rest. A lack of rest could be a contributing factor to any number of mental, emotional, or physical conditions. 

A lack of rest has financial implications as well: paying more than necessary for food due to eating out more often, paying housekeepers, landscapers, and mechanics to do work we can do ourselves, paying handy-men to complete projects we can’t get to because of our schedule. How many households spend more than needed (and save less) simply due to being busy? 

If you want to look back on this inconvenient time in world history and see a silver lining, look for ways to simplify your life and rest. Find possessions you don’t need and donate them. Declutter your house. End subscriptions you aren’t using. Cancel activities that aren’t as important as they used to be. Reconnect with old friends (virtually). Serve your neighbors in their need. Enjoy small moments. 

This will all be over soon enough. But we can emerge from this experience calmer, more rested than we were before. Look for contentment in simplicity and take time to rest.