What is the value of Sabbath? Why do we need to rest? What are the connections between the spiritual practice of deep and spacious rest and learning the practice of ministry?
Sleep is the most basic form of daily rest, and most of us can do better at getting adequate sleep. Taking a deeper intentional rest each week is a theme I have been exploring for many years in my life and here on the blog. I personally find it essential for my well-being. When I don’t practice Sabbath, I feel the loss in all areas of my life.
In this week’s episode we hear from Danielle Tumminio Hansen about what she experienced on her recent Sabbatical.
In this final episode our four February conversations with Danielle we cover a lot of territory. She and I talk about the power of learning in practice as well as the gifts of her recent Sabbatical.
Danielle shares with us one of the values of Sabbath. In her time of Sabbatical she found spaciousness to think and create. She was also productive with writing that everyday routines make more challenging. This process of taking a deep intentional time away from the every day practices of teaching and administration points to a similar value for ministers.
We need rest. Every kind of work is better when it is punctuated with daily, weekly and longer periods of rest. Yet we do not rest simply in order to produce more! We need spaciousness in our lives.
Although not every profession values Sabbath or Sabbatical, the value of resting and trusting God to carry on the world of the world without us is built right into our belief system. Yet resting is a value ministers are often are tempted to ignore. We feel deeply responsible, which makes stepping away a challenge. Without taking time to rest deeply, ministers can experience stress and even burn out in ministry.
Our episode this week ends with Danielle telling us some questions she lives, writes and teaches by. Watch to the end to hear them. Here are some questions for you:
- How do you rest daily, weekly and with longer periods of deep intentional rest?
- What are you learning about the connections between the spiritual practice of deep rest and growing in your practice of ministry?
- How do you think about the need for spaciousness in your learning?
