Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Trust”
Our Bible verse for today: “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.” Psalm 23:2-3 (NIV)
I’m on a little vacation at the moment. It’s true that I’ve also performed a wedding, written daily devotional messages every day, answered email, followed the lives of my church members on Facebook, and toyed with ideas for the next sermon, but I’ve also allowed time for rest and relaxation, and I’m at least thinking about and trying to engage in some genuine leisure.
Towards that end I’ve been reading a book by the German philosopher Josef Pieper entitled “Leisure: The basis of culture”. It’s a deep dive into the philosophy of leisure and I’ve found it to be very helpful. For one thing, Pieper’s understanding of true leisure is revealing and convicting.
The true leisure that Pieper writes about isn’t a goofing off kind of leisure, like spending three hours lying on the couch watching television and eating Cheetos. Instead this is the leisure of Psalm 23:2-3: “He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters; He restores my soul.” It’s the leisure of Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.”
This is leisure that’s nurturing, soothing, and restorative. And it’s the kind of leisure most of us get far too little of. For most of us, when we do finally relax, it’s usually more of the television and Cheetos variety of leisure – junk food for the mind and body.
Why are we so reluctant to spend time in true leisure? (Like Pieper, I mean quality time that will really do something good for your mind, soul and body.)
Maybe in some cases it’s because the person is spiritually lazy and vegetating in front of the TV is easier than spending time with God. But also, as was noted yesterday, I think many of us (including me) have a kind of Messiah complex. We secretly think that we have to save everyone; we have to solve all the problems; and that if we let-up for even a moment, the world will stop turning, or people’s lives will fall apart, or at the very least those who depend on us will think less of us for taking time-out for ourselves.
But the reality of the situation is that if we don’t take time for ourselves, time to engage in real leisure, the kind that nurtures our spirit and restores our soul, we will become progressively less and less effective at the things that keep us so busy (and which we believe to be so important). And with enough neglect of our own needs, we’ll eventually get to the point that our efforts at being there for everyone else will become counter-productive and we will end up doing more harm than good.
We all need that time the Psalmist writes about of lying down in the metaphorical green pastures and sitting beside the quiet waters (whatever that would actually look like in your life). Deep time with God – in prayer, in scripture, and in times of extended peace and quiet, is what real leisure is all about.
I encourage you to set aside that time for yourself soon. It’s ok – while you’re taking that time out for yourself you can trust God to take care of all those other things for you.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 